Other Countries
To The North & East Of Italy
Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland
Russia, Sweden, Ukraine
First Class Relics
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Adalbert, bishop and martyr (April 23rd), Luke, evangelist (October 18th), and Wenceslaus, martyr (September 28th)
St Adalbert [Wojciech in Polish] (d. 997) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; Gniezno, Poland)
St Luke (Relics: Rome, Italy; Padua, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; Thebes, Greece)
St Wenceslaus (d. 935, Stará Boleslav, Czech Republic) (Relics: Prague, Czech Republic)
Cathedral of St Vitus
Hrad III. Nádvoří
119 00 Prague, Czech Republic
*In 1039 Bohemia achieved a key military victory in Gniezno, the capital city of Poland. According to Bohemian tradition among the spoils of victory returned to Bohemia following this victory were the relics of St Adalbert. In the spring of 2014 a special ceremony was held to honor these relics. During this ceremony some of the relics were placed within a new ornamental-house shaped reliquary. This reliquary was then placed within the Old Archbishop’s Chapel in the cathedral. The skull of the saint, which is kept separate, was placed within the Hilbert Treasury. The remaining relics remain within St Vitus Cathedral and rest within an altar located to the left of the main sanctuary. A sign in Czech located below this altar reads ‘Ostatky Svatého Vojtěcha Druhého Pražského Biskupa (982-997)’. (As noted on the following page this Bohemian tradition is disputed by the Gniezno Cathedral which continues to claim possession of St Adalbert’s relics.)
*A relic of the head of St Luke is preserved in this church. It was brought here by Charles IV in 1354. A recent study on this relic was conducted at the request of Archbishop Antonio Mattiazzo of Padua in 1998. This study seems to suggest that the authentic relic of St Luke’s head is the one located here and not the one found in the Treasury Museum of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.
*St Wenceslaus, a 10th century duke of Bohemia, is buried within a large chapel on the right side of the nave. Frescoes upon the wall of this chapel depict scenes from his life including his martyrdom. Each year on September 28th the relic of his skull is processed from St Vitus Cathedral to the church where he was martyred in Stará Boleslav. This twelve mile walk is well attended and includes the Castle Guards of the Prague Castle.
*The remains of St John of Nepomuk (d. 1393) rest within a beautiful tomb just to the right of the main sanctuary. The tomb’s odd placement creates a bottleneck for the pilgrims who are making their rounds through the church. His tomb is marked ‘Stříbrný Náhrobek Svatého Jana Nepomuckého (1345-1393)’. Also outside of the cathedral upon Charles Bridge is a large statue of St John of Nepomuk. This statue marks the spot where St John was thrown to his death in 997 for refusing to betray the seal of Confession.
Gniezno Cathedral
Jana Łaskiego 9
62-200 Gniezno, Poland
*This church continues to claim to have the relics of St Adalbert despite the Bohemian tradition noted above. These relics rest within the prominent silver tomb in the main sanctuary.
Andrew, apostle (November 30th)
St Andrew (Relics: Patras, Greece; Amalfi, Italy; Florence, Italy; Edinburgh, Scotland; Cologne, Germany; Kiev, Ukraine)
St Andrew’s Church
Андріївський узвіз, 23
Kiev, Ukraine 02000
*Legend holds that St Andrew’s apostolic zeal led him as far north as Ukraine where he placed a cross in the very spot where this church now stands. The present church was erected in the 18th century and houses a small relic of St Andrew.
Bridget, religious (July 23rd)
St Bridget (d. 1373, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Vadstena, Sweden)
Vadstena Klosterkyrka
(Vadstena Abbey)
Lasarettsgatan
59230 Vadstena, Sweden
*Relics of St Bridget were transferred here in 1374. They rest within the chapel in the right transept.
Casimir (March 4th)
St Casimir (d. 1484, Hrodna, Belarus) (Relics: Vilnius, Lithuania)
Vilnius Cathedral
Cathedral Square
01122 Vilnius, Lithuania
*St Casimir was greatly beloved by the faithful in his country. If not for his early death at the age of twenty-five he would have become the King of Poland. He is remembered in particular for his exceptional piety and humility. His remains now rest in Vilnius, Lithuania and are placed within a silver sarcophagus in this church.
Faustina Kowalska
St Faustina Kowalska (d. 1938, Kraków, Poland) (Relics: Kraków, Poland)
Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzia
(Shrine of Divine Mercy)
Siostry Faustyny 3
30-420 Kraków, Poland
*The remains of St Faustina, to whom Jesus revealed the inexhaustible limits of His Divine Mercy, rest within the chapel at this convent. They are placed within a white urn located under an image of Divine Mercy just to the left of the main sanctuary. The original tomb of St Faustina can be visited in the cemetery adjacent to the new church.
John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor (September 13th)
St John Chrysostom (d. 407, NE Turkey) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Moscow, Russia; Mount Athos, Greece)
Cathedral of Christ the Savior
ул. Волхонка, 15
119019 Moscow, Russia
*The skull of St John Chrysostom is enshrined within this church. It was gifted to this church in the 17th century.
John of Kanty, priest (December 23rd)
St John of Kanty (d. 1473, Kraków, Poland) (Relics: Kraków, Poland)
Church of St Anne
św. Anny 11
30-962 Kraków, Poland
*St John of Kanty, a professor of theology and a parish priest, is buried in the right transept of this church. In Polish his tomb is marked as (św. Jan z Kęt).
Methodius, bishop - February 14th
St Methodius (d. 885, Velehrad, Czech Republic)
Velehrad Monastery
Stojanovo nádvoří 206,
687 06 Velehrad, Czech Republic
*After St Cyril’s death St Methodius returned to Moravia where he zealously spread the Faith until his passing in 885 AD. A church was subsequently constructed over his tomb. However, both the church and his tomb were later destroyed. This monastery now stands in proximity to St Methodius’ original resting place.
Norbert, bishop (June 6th)
St Norbert (d. 1134, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany) (Relics: Prague, Czech Republic)
Strahov Monastery
Strahovské Nádvoří 132/1
118 00 Prague, Czech Republic
*The relics of St Norbert, who founded the Norbertine Order and later became the bishop of Magdeburg, Germany, were transferred from Magdeburg to this monastery in 1627. Since 1873 these relics have rested within a beautifully crafted gilded sarcophagus placed above the main altar of the large chapel located on the right side of the nave of this church.
Stanislaus, bishop and martyr (April 11th)
St Stanislaus Bishop (d. 1079, Kraków, Poland) (Relics: Kraków, Poland)
Wawel Cathedral
Wawel 3
31-001 Kraków, Poland
*The remains of St Stanislaus rest within this church. They are placed within an exquisite silver-plated coffin located above the main altar in the center of this church. St Stanislaus was martyred by the King of Poland, Bolesław II, after he had placed the king under excommunication.
*St John Paul II was ordained a priest in 1946 and celebrated his first Mass in the crypt of this church. It was also here where he was consecrated bishop.
Stephen of Hungary (August 16th)
St Stephen of Hungary (d. 1038, Hungary) (Relics: Budapest, Hungary)
St Stephen's Cathedral
Szent István tér 1
1051 Budapest, Hungary
*The right hand of St Stephen of Hungary rests within an ornate reliquary in a chapel to the left of the main sanctuary.
