Thousands attend St Wenceslas pilgrimage in Stará Boleslav

Thousands of people attended the annual St Wenceslas pilgrimage in Stará Boleslav near Prague on Monday, marking Czech Statehood Day and honouring the country’s patron saint.

At a traditional mass, Prague Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl called for reconciliation, forgiveness and unity in society, warning against allowing disagreement to turn into hatred.

A new silver reliquary containing a relic of St Wenceslas was displayed at the pilgrimage for the first time. The saint’s skull was also brought from St Vitus Cathedral in Prague and put on public display.