Drowned in the Vltava river, St. John of Nepomuk stands as a beacon of faith. We are standing before the St. Nepomuk Statue. It is here to remind us of a story of courage and devotion.
St. John of Nepomuk was a saint of Bohemia. Bohemia is now the Czech Republic. He lived in the 14th century. King Wenceslaus IV ordered him to be drowned. This happened in the Vltava river in Prague.
Later accounts say St. John was Queen of Bohemia’s confessor. He refused to reveal her confessional secrets. Because of this, St. John is seen as the first martyr of the Seal of the Confessional. He is a patron against slander. Because of his death, he protects against floods and drowning.
Jan z Pomuku was born in the small town of Pomuk. The town was later renamed Nepomuk. It belonged to a Cistercian abbey. Jan studied at the University of Prague. He studied canon law at the University of Padua. In 1393, he became vicar-general of Saint Giles Cathedral. Jan of Jenštejn, Archbishop of Prague, appointed him.
A dispute arose over the new abbot for Kladruby Abbey in 1393. King Wenceslaus supported Pope Clement VII. The archbishop followed Pope Boniface IX in Rome. John confirmed the archbishop’s candidate against the king’s wishes. On March 20, 1393, King Wenceslaus IV had John tortured. He was thrown from the Charles Bridge into the River Vltava.
Archbishop Jan of Jenštejn called John a “holy martyr.” The bishop’s biography described him as a “glorious martyr of Christ”. He sparkled with miracles.
Some historians believe John’s refusal to break the seal of confession angered Wenceslaus. The king took revenge at the first opportunity.
Catholics see St. John of Nepomuk as a martyr. He defended the Seal of the Confessional. Nationalists see him as a Czech martyr against imperial interference. Historians view him as a victim of the conflict between secular rulers and the Catholic Church.
The veneration of St. John of Nepomuk grew in the 17th century. It spread from Bohemia to many Catholic countries. This especially happened in places tied to the Habsburg family. Statues and churches honor him across Central Europe. They also exist in the Americas and India.
Tens of thousands of statues of St. John of Nepomuk exist worldwide. He is the most represented Czech person in art. Many statues stand on bridges. He is the patron saint of bridges. The statues often show him with a halo of five stars. This refers to the legend of stars appearing over his body in the river.
Here in Salzburg, St. John of Nepomuk is very important. Prince-Archbishops Franz Anton Harrach and Leopold Anton Firmian supported his worship. Since 1736, he is the second patron saint of the diocese. Josef Anton Pfaffinger created marble statues of him in Salzburg.
St. John of Nepomuk protects against floods and water hazards. He also protects against animosity and gossip. His story teaches us about courage and discretion. It also highlights the importance of staying true to our beliefs. As you leave this place, remember St. John. He reminds us to stand firm in our convictions.