Mezi mořem a řekou - Kronika pozemského putování svatého proroka – Svoboda Bohumil (2014)

The beloved and sympathetic figure of the saint from Sázava continues to attract the interest of Czech society, both believers and non-believers. Saint Prokop is, in the understanding of the Czech people, a direct model of holiness: this is how our people imagined and still imagine a saint: poor, humble, kindly willing to help not only in spiritual matters but also in worldly, material ones. Moreover, he is Czech, a defender of the nation's most precious treasure, its language. The Sázava monastery he founded became an island of the Slavic language, Old Church Slavonic, amidst the Latinizing environment of Central Europe. Both Old Church Slavonic and Latin were used in Sázava, as well as Roman and Eastern rites. Therefore, Sázava also became a symbol of the struggle against encroaching Germanization, so its legacy was often highlighted in history precisely during the most dangerous periods for the Czech (and Slavic) language. However, it is interesting that the greatest flourishing of the cult and recognition of St. Prokop occurred during the reign of Charles IV, who, by founding the monastery in Prague 'Na Slovanech,' clearly indicated the direction of development he wished to see for the future of the country: towards a united church of both the West and the East. Charles — our first saint who did not die a violent death —...