Statue of Saint Procopius in Telč

The Statue of Saint Procopius in Telč is a Baroque sculpture standing on the embankment separating the town's historic core from the Štěpnický pond, in a spot known as Na Baště. It shows the Czech hermit and abbot in bishop's vestments, trampling a devil bound in chains — a direct reference to the legend of the saint who is said to have harnessed an evil spirit to a plough.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The figure stands on the Na Baště embankment, which runs along the dam separating Telč's historic core from the Štěpnický pond — one of two ponds that have surrounded the town for centuries, acting as a kind of natural moat. It's a quiet, partly wooded part of town, away from the busy main square but still an easy walk from the centre. The coordinates are 49.1863°N, 15.4525°E.

Who made the statue?

The statue is attributed to Štěpán Pagan, a sculptor active in nearby Třebíč, though sources specific to the Telč monument do not confirm this with certainty and only name him as the most likely author. The style of the figure — a dynamic pose and heavily draped bishop's robes — fits the conventions of Baroque religious sculpture typical of the Vysočina region in the 18th century.

What does the statue depict, and what does it mean?

Saint Procopius is shown in full bishop's dress, holding a crozier and other insignia of ecclesiastical authority, with a chained devil lying at his feet. This is a direct reference to one of the best-known hagiographic legends attached to the saint: the story that Procopius tamed an evil spirit and used it like a draught animal to plough the fields around his hermitage. The motif recurs across Czech religious art, and the Telč figure is one of several local examples of this particular iconographic theme.

Who was Saint Procopius?

Procopius of Sázava lived around the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries and is regarded as one of the patron saints of Bohemia. He was a hermit and later the first abbot of Sázava Monastery, which he founded and ran according to the Old Slavonic liturgical rite. He was canonised in 1204, and his feast day falls on 4 July. The cult of Saint Procopius was especially strong in Bohemia and Moravia during the Baroque period, when most of the wayside and town statues dedicated to him — likely including this one in Telč — were erected.

Why was it placed here specifically?

The location on the pond embankment is no coincidence. Statues of patron saints of this kind were commonly placed at boundary points — on dams, bridges or at town gates — where they were meant to offer protection to residents and travellers passing through. Telč, whose historic core is ringed by the waters of the Štěpnický and Ulický ponds, has several such statues positioned around the square and along the dams, and the Saint Procopius statue is one of them.

What's worth knowing before visiting?

The statue stands in the shade of trees along a walking route that connects Telč's main square with the area around the Štěpnický pond — a good spot for a brief stop on a longer walk around the edges of town, particularly for anyone interested in the Baroque religious sculpture of the Vysočina region. Telč itself is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its exceptionally well-preserved Renaissance and Baroque square, so the statue is easy to combine with a visit to the historic centre.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Statue of Saint Procopius in Telč depict? A saint in bishop's vestments trampling a chained devil, referencing the legend of Procopius harnessing an evil spirit to a plough.

Where does the statue stand? On the Na Baště embankment, along the dam separating Telč's historic centre from the Štěpnický pond.

Who made the statue? It is attributed to Štěpán Pagan, a sculptor from Třebíč, though the attribution is not definitively confirmed.

What period does the statue date from? It is executed in the Baroque style typical of religious sculpture in the Vysočina region.

Who was Saint Procopius? A Czech hermit and the first abbot of Sázava Monastery, canonised in 1204 and regarded as one of the patron saints of Bohemia.

Are there similar statues elsewhere in Telč? Yes — the town has several Baroque saints' statues positioned around its square and along the dams that ring the historic core.