The Legend of John of Nepomuk

The Legend of John of Nepomuk is a tale from Czech history about a priest who served as confessor to the Queen. When King Wenceslas demanded the Queen’s secrets, John refused to reveal them, even under torture. According to legend, he was thrown into the Vltava River from Prague's Charles Bridge and drowned. As a result, John is venerated as a martyr and protector against drowning. His image often appears with a halo of five stars, symbolizing his sanctity, and he remains a popular saint and symbol of honesty and faithfulness in Czech culture.