November 12, 1989: Canonization of Agnes of Bohemia
Thirty-five years ago, the canonization of Agnes of Bohemia marked a turning point for Czechoslovakia, symbolizing hope and the promise of change as the Velvet Revolution loomed on the horizon. On November 12, 1989—just five days before the revolution began—10,000 Czechoslovak pilgrims filled St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City to witness the canonization of the Czech patroness by Pope John Paul II.
Originally, plans called for the ceremony to take place in Czechoslovakia, but the ruling Communist regime refused the Pope’s entry into the country. In a rare concession, however, the government permitted the unprecedented pilgrimage to Rome. Thousands of Czechs and Slovaks travelled by bus, train, and even a specially chartered flight to attend the canonization, with the Archbishop’s Palace in Prague transforming into an unlikely travel agency coordinating the journey.
Among the pilgrims circulated a prophecy: with Agnes declared a saint, Bohemia would soon see peace, prosperity, and freedom. Her canonization, coming just days before the Velvet Revolution, is often regarded as a powerful harbinger of the regime’s fall. Agnes’s sainthood resonated as both a religious and political symbol, inspiring the Czech people as they moved toward a new era of democracy and independence.
