The Story, Significance, and Impact of the Czech Saint

The respect for John of Nepomuk started growing just a short time after he died in 1393. Over the years, he became a symbol representing loyalty, silence, and guardianship against bad luck on water. This is also shown in the way he is depicted in art – typical statues of this well-known Czech martyr can be seen on bridges and near rivers all over Central Europe. Still, the journey to receive his formal recognition by the Church took many centuries, concluding with his canonisation in 1729.
Because of this, Saint John of Nepomuk became one of the most honored saints during the Baroque period, and his statues are found in thousands of locations – from small villages in the Czech Republic to distant places in Europe and beyond. You can still see reminders of his life and legacy today in Nepomuk, located in southern Plzeň, a town closely connected to his narrative.

Nepomuk and the old-new statue

The legacy of St John of Nepomuk in Nepomuk is celebrated by the St John’s Museum, a grand Baroque church at what is believed to be the birthplace of the saint, as well as a pathway following his life and a statue of the saint that currently stands at the center of the roundabout leading from the town to Písek. This statue has grown to be a vital symbol of local culture.

The cast-iron statue is about 180 centimeters tall and has a fascinating history: it was made in 1913 at the archbishop’s foundries in Rožmitál pod Třemšínem and was initially located in the village of Tchořovice. Later, it was moved to the garden of the Discalced Augustinian monastery in Lnáře, which is now a psychiatric hospital. Recently, patients at that hospital found the statue while planting a tree. It’s unclear how long the statue was buried, but it is clear it had been treated with respect and care. To maintain its patina, it appears a grey-black color, adding to the aura of mystery surrounding St John. For many years, Nepomuk contemplated a new artistic design for the roundabout so visitors could instantly recognize this as the town of St John of Nepomuk. An art competition took place, but locals weren’t satisfied with the results, leading to the idea being quietly abandoned. In contrast, everyone welcomed the placement of the nearly century-old statue, especially since Lnáře is only about ten kilometers from Nepomuk: essentially, Saint John has truly returned home.

The death of the silent saint and the Feast of St John

Anthropological studies suggest that John of Nepomuk died due to a head injury likely caused during torture, and on the evening of 20 March 1393, after nine o’clock, his body was tossed off Charles Bridge into the Vltava River. His body was discovered by fishermen almost a month later, on 17 April, stuck on the right bank of the Vltava at the point where Dušní Street meets the water today. The body was then taken by the Cyriaci or the Brothers of the Order of the Cross with the Red Heart and buried with care in the Church of the Greater Holy Cross at their monastery. Although that monastery no longer exists due to the redevelopment of the Old Town, it’s noteworthy that the Knights of the Cross were responsible for organizing the Navalis St John’s Festival. This tradition has been successfully revived. Every year on 15 May, the celebrations in Prague include a solemn mass in the cathedral, a parade, and a Baroque concert on the Vltava River near Charles Bridge to honor the saint’s feast day. The term navalis originates from Latin, referring to music for ships – Musica navalis in honorem Sancti Ioannis Nepomuceni, meaning ship’s music in honor of St John of Nepomuk.

The cult of John of Nepomuk

Even as early as 1416, the remains of the former vicar general were laid to rest in St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, and he continued to be remembered across the Czech lands. He was also mentioned in the well-known Chronicle of Bohemia written by Václav Hájek of Libočany. However, he mistakenly spoke of two Jans: John of Nepomuk and Doctor John of Pomuk. Based on his accounts, both met their end by drowning, one in 1383 and the other ten years later.

While Hájek’s errors caused significant confusion regarding history, the Baroque period played a major role in promoting the cult of John of Nepomuk. By 1599, we see ‘John the Confessor’ included among the Czech patron saints, and in 1639, construction began on a church in Nepomuk at the site speculated to be John’s birthplace. In the latter half of the 17th century, Latin biographies began to circulate, and in 1683, a bronze statue of John of Nepomuk was installed on Charles Bridge, marking the very first of the renowned Baroque sculptures. This statue was cast in Nuremberg based on a wooden figure by Jan Brokof, who had created it the preceding year based on a smaller statue by the Viennese sculptor Matthias Rauchmüller. The statue on Charles Bridge became the template for most portrayals of John of Nepomuk.

In 1691 – when John of Nepomuk had yet to be either beatified or canonized – a wooden chapel dedicated to him was built where the current Church of St John of Nepomuk on Skalka in Prague now sits; in 1704, the first column with a statue of John of Nepomuk was erected, and in 1708, the first church officially dedicated to him was consecrated in Hradec Králové.

A girl beneath the mill wheels

Despite John’s growing popularity, the Vatican remained quite cautious about the movement to canonize him. However, the complicated path to his canonization ultimately took a relatively short time. This process began in 1715 when the Archbishop of Prague, František Ferdinand Khünburg, initiated it. On 31 May 1721, Pope Innocent XIII announced John was beatified, and on 19 March 1729, right before the anniversary of his death, Pope Benedict XIII proclaimed John a saint through the canonization bull Christus Dominus.

The process of canonization necessitates proof of miracles; in John of Nepomuk’s case, this primarily concerned his tongue, which was discovered intact in his skull in the 18th century (more details on this will be provided at the end of the article), along with the miraculous rescue of Rozálie Hodánková.

What occurred in that situation? On 22 February 1718, a seven-year-old girl, the daughter of the steward of the Strakonice estate, was walking over a footbridge crossing the millstream near the Pětikolský Mill, situated close to the weir in the heart of Strakonice. Unfortunately, she lost her footing on the bridge, fell into the stream, and was carried under the mill wheels by the icy current. It took rescuers at least half an hour to get her out, but when she was finally brought to dry land, miraculously she was unhurt – remarkably, just two years earlier, those very same mill wheels had claimed the lives of two strong men. The girl later reported that she believed she had seen the living John of Nepomuk, who reassured her she would not drown and encouraged her not to fear. Thus, over time, the tale of the Strakonice miracle emerged, a story the town has cherished for three hundred years. This event is also commemorated by a painting in St Margaret’s Church in Strakonice.

Patron of those who work on the water and of good reputation

The most beloved saint in the Czech Republic is often shown with five shining stars surrounding his head (which are said to have appeared in the Vltava after his drowning), and he holds a cross and a palm branch in his hands. Thanks to the Jesuit missionaries, his fame spread across the globe, reaching places like Asia, Latin America, and Spain, where he is recognized as the patron saint of sailors. Statues of St John can be commonly found in the Czech landscape, and because he is revered as the patron saint of water due to his supposed drowning, these statues are frequently placed on bridges – in addition to the most famous one on Charles Bridge in Prague, for instance, there’s also a glass statue of John of Nepomuk in Čepice. He serves as the patron saint of confession, bridges, individuals living by the water, and nearly all professions associated with water, including millers, raftsmen, ice-cutters, and fishermen. Moreover, he is a protector for all pilgrims, guarding them against floods and slander.

Did you know that…?

• • The canonization process can extend for hundreds of years; for instance, the canonization of Agnes of Bohemia took the Church over 700 years. Currently, several Czechs are awaiting beatification, including Cardinal Josef Beran, Antonín Cyril Stojan, and Josef Toufar, a priest linked to the Číhošť miracle.

• • The exact location where John was thrown into the river is marked by a brass cross embedded in the railing of Charles Bridge.

• • The tomb of St John of Nepomuk in St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle was created by the Viennese silversmith Josef Würth, following a design from Josef Emanuel Fischer von Erlach.

• • John’s tomb was opened on 15 April 1719, and during a study of his remains, a spoonful of organic material fell from his skull. Five experts agreed it was most likely the tongue. In later examinations of this relic, the substance even expanded and turned red. More recent investigations disclosed that it was not a tongue, but dried brain matter, which had partially swelled and changed colors when it got moist in 1725. After the investigation, this substance was returned to the reliquary.

• • Numerous statues promise to grant secret wishes when touched or caressed, with some even located in the Czech Republic. The statue of St John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge in Prague is listed by the travel site VirtualTourist.com among the top ten luckiest symbols in the world.

• • Devotion to St John of Nepomuk remains strong; for example, in 1929, Nepomucenum, the Czech Pontifical College in Rome, was established in his honor.

• • Searching for the most beautiful church dedicated to John of Nepomuk? It’s straightforward: none can match the pilgrimage church on Zelená hora in Žďár nad Sázavou. Designed in the early 18th century by Jan Blažej Santini, it features a five-pointed star shape, five entrances, and displays five stars and five angels on the high altar. In 1994, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.