A Christmastime Saint, Wenceslas


 A Christmastime Saint

King Wenceslas

Today, December 26, is the Feast Of Steven, when, as we all know, "Good King Wenceslas looked out,
on the Feast of Steven," according to the carol written by Anglican cleric John Mason Neale in 1853. I described my painting of St. Wenceslas with this a few years ago for a gallery display

Saint Wenceslas

 

September 2,

But associated with the Feast of St Steven

December 26

 

St Wenceslas, Svätý Vaclav, Duke of Bohemia (posthumously titled King) has in tradition been celebrated for his generosity and kindnesses to the poor.  The patron of the Czech Republic, Wenceslas has long been venerated in Central and Eastern Europe.  His tradition in the English-speaking world has been informed by the carol Good King Wenceslas published in 1853 by the Anglican cleric John Mason Neale, who overlooks our scene from his framed photograph.  The seven-foot tall saint carries a jug of wine and a basket food for the poor, while his page, Podavin, follows with firewood.  Wenceslas’s celebration in many of the Eastern and Western churches is acknowledged by his name encircling in traditional liturgical languages.  The saintly king is symbolized by the arms of his realm.


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