NAVALIS Saint John’s Celebrations

The biggest Baroque celebrations on the water at Charles Bridge in Prague following a three-hundred year tradition

May 15th 2017

Fireworks during festivals Navalis | navalis

Prague residents and people from around the world can only see the oldest stone bridge in Prague against such an imposing backdrop once a year

Baroque concert below Charles Bridge with a light spectacular

The NAVALIS Saint John’s Celebrations are in commemoration of the best-known Czech saint and Prague native, Saint John of Nepomuk, patron of all people of the water. A mass is held with a procession and a Baroque water concert on the Vltava River beside Charles Bridge on the evening before the holy day of Saint John of Nepomuk (so-called vigilia).

Painting history Navalis festivities | navalis

Visit the celebrations with a tradition spanning several centuries from 1715.

“Saint John of Nepomuk is the patron of bridges, communication, good reputation and people of the water“

Midsummer celebrations Navalis | navalis

Experience the genius loci of Baroque Prague!

Become a part of the Saint John’s celebrations in historic Prague and enjoy an unforgettable spiritual and cultural experience.

Pilgrims from around the world traditionally come to Prague to honour Saint John of Nepomuk.

Venetian gondoliers come to Prague every year for this celebration. Saint John of Nepomuk is the patron of all gondoliers and one of the eight patrons of Venice. The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk is the only Baroque statue situated right on the bank of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.

Programme

4 p.m.

Decoration of Kunovice Banderium Horses, Hradčany Square

6 p.m.

Holly Mass in the St. Vitus Cathedral

7:15 p.m.

St. John’s Procession to the Charles Bridge

8:30 p.m.

River Regatta, Skydiving and Swimmers in the Vltava River, Charles Bridge

8:45 p.m.

Religious Service in the St. Francis of Assisi Church, Křižovnické square

World Premier of Kryštof Marek’s Concert for Violin „Mystery of St. John of Nepomuk“, Baroque Fireworks | Navalis

9:15 p.m.

Concert on the Vltava River under the Charles Bridge

The detailed program

The Water Concert Features Czech Violin Virtuoso Gabriela Demeterová

Sunday 14. 5.

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Venetian afternoon at the Čertovka Canal

Monday 15. 5.

10:00 am
Holly Mass in the St. John of Nepomuk on Skalka Church

1:00 pm
Old Bohemian Folklore Festival „Staročeské máje“, Křižovnické náměstí

4:00 pm
Festive decorating horses, Hradčany Square

5:15 pm
Blessing of the Riders, Horses and Pilgrims, Hradčany Square

6:00 pm
Holly Mass in the St. Vitus Cathedral

7:15 pm
St. John’s Procession to the Charles Bridge

8:30 pm
River Regatta, Skydiving and Swimmers in the Vltava River, Charles Bridge

8:45 pm
Religious Service in the St. Francis of Assisi Church, Křižovnické square

9:15 pm
Concert on the Vltava River under the Charles Bridge

10:15 pm
Baroque Fireworks

Receive news about programme updates

The NAVALIS Saint John’s celebrations include annual educational, spiritual and cultural projects.

Glass statue

(2011)

The biggest cast glass statue of Saint John of Nepomuk in the world was blessed on the podium. It was situated on the bridge across the Otava River in Čepice u Sušic.

Bells for Nepomuk

(2011)

Bells were let down from the bridge to the surface of the Vltava and were transported and subsequently situated at the birth site of Saint John of Nepomuk.

Underwater statue

(2013)

A statue placed at a depth of 4 metres below the water in the Slapsko Reservoir, where the original statue used to stand on the banks of the Vltava by Saint John’s torrents.

Ride of Kings

(2015)

The Ride of Kings presented in Prague for the first time in Prague. This tradition is registered with UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Contact information

Svatojánský spolek, z.s. (St. John of Nepomuk Association)
Platnéřská 191/4
110 00 Prague 1 – Staré Město
Česká republika
tel.: +420 776 776 779
email: info@navalis.cz

Company Reg No.: 03362531
The company is registered under: File Number 61204 L, Municipal Court in Prague
IBAN: CZ38 2700 0000 0021 1127 3369
SWIFT: BACXCZPP

Vojtěch Pokorný, chairman
tel.: +420 608 149 042
email: pokorny@navalis.cz

Lucie Turnerová, secretary
tel.: +420 734 315 771
email: lucia@navalis.cz