Saint Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia, came from a princely lineage that ruled in Czechia and was the grandson of the holy martyr Ludmila. His parents, Duke Vratislaus and his wife Dragomira, had two more sons and several daughters. From a young age, Wenceslaus showed kindness and talents, learning Slavic and Latin grammar. After the death of his father in 920, he became the ruler, caring for the country and his family, displaying piety and mercy.
However, wicked nobles, wishing to exploit his youth, began to turn him against his mother, accusing her of the murder of his grandmother. Wenceslaus, believing them, sent his mother to Budec, but soon repented and brought her back, showing her respect and care. He continued to do good, helping the poor and building churches.
The malicious nobles, not achieving their goal, incited his brother Boleslaus to murder Wenceslaus. Boleslaus, succumbing to their instigation, invited his brother to the consecration of a church, where, despite warnings, Wenceslaus remained. At night, as he was going to the church, Boleslaus attacked him with a sword, and the saint was killed at the church doors, uttering: “Lord, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
After the murder, Wenceslaus's body was dismembered and left unburied until a priest covered it with a shroud. The saint's mother, upon learning of his death, gathered his remains and hid from persecution. Later, repenting, Boleslaus transferred the relics of Saint Wenceslaus to Prague, where they were honorably buried in the church of Saint Vitus.
