St. Wenceslaus / Sv. Václav - Stará Boleslav (Central Bohemia) - Statues of Religious Figures on Waymarking.com

Depicted life size sandstone statue of St. Wenceslaus (Sv. Václav) decorates the main public space of town Stará Boleslav - Mariánské námestí (Marian Square).

Sandstone St. Wenceslaus statue, work of renown Czech sculptor Stanislav Sucharda from 1894, is situated on the top of tiered prismatic sandstone pedestal with inscription (from St. Wenceslaus Chorale): Svatý Vaclave, vévodo ceské zeme, nedej zahynouti nám ni budoucím / Saint Wenceslas, ruler of the Czech lands, do not let us, her future, perish.

St. Wenceslaus (Sv. Václav), duke, martyr, and patron of Bohemia, born probably 903; died at Stará Boleslav, 28 September, 935.

His parents were Duke Vratislav (Wratislaw), a Christian, and Drahomíra, a heathen. He received a good Christian education from his grandmother (St. Ludmila). After the death of Vratislav, Drahomíra, acting as regent, opposed Christianity, and Wenceslaus, being urged by the people, took the reins of government. He placed his duchy under the protection of Germany, introduced German priests, and favoured the Latin rite instead of the old Slavic, which had gone into disuse in many places for want of priests. Wenceslaus had taken the vow of virginity and was known for his virtues. The Emperor Otto I conferred on him the regal dignity and title. For religious and national motives, and at the instigation of Drahomíra, Wenceslaus was murdered by his brother Boleslav. The body, hacked to pieces, was buried at the place of murder, but three years later Boleslav, having repented of his deed, ordered its translation to the Church of St. Vitus in Prague. The gathering of his relics is noted in the calendars on 27 June, their translation on 4 March; his feast is celebrated on 28 September.