St. John Nepomuk and other Prague, Czech Republic Local Custom Tips

St.John Nepomuk will help keep your secret.

Birth: unknown
Death: c. 1383

There is considerable doubt as to the exact origins of Saint John (Jan) Nepomuk. He was either a Vicar-General of Prague, named John (Jan) or Pomuk, or another vicar who refused to reveal confessional secrets of King Wenceslas IV's wife.
In any case, he was tortured and thrown off the Charles Bridge in Prague, where his body supposedly floated on the surface for some time, surrounded by a halo of stars. He was beatified in 1721 and canonized in 1729.
Saint Nepomuk is the patron saint of bridges and boatmen, and his statue (with a halo of golden stars) often appears on bridges and islands in Europe. His 1736 tomb, in St. Vitus Cathedral, contains two tons of silver.

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When walking across Charles Bridge you will notice that certain statues have brass reliefs which depict events in Czech history. Local custom dictates that touching part of the relief will bring some form of luck.

Touch the statue of St. John, here being thrown from the bridge and think of the secret you do not want revealed.

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Just touch the dog and think of the secret you do not want revealed.

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