sv. Ludmila

The Statue of St. Ludmila stands on a stone terrace in front of the pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Hluboké Mašůvky, a small village in the Znojmo district of South Moravia, Czech Republic. It is one of seven statues of Czech saints and patrons that line the square in front of the church, adding to the devotional character of this notable South Moravian pilgrimage site.

Who was St. Ludmila

St. Ludmila was the grandmother of St. Wenceslaus, the patron saint of the Czech lands, whom she raised and helped form in the Christian faith after his father's death. She was born in Mělník as the daughter of Slavibor, a Sorbian prince. She died a martyr's death and was canonized shortly afterward — in 925, Wenceslaus had her remains transferred to St. George's Basilica at Prague Castle, where they rest to this day. She remains one of the most venerated Czech female saints.

Where the statue stands and who stands beside it

The statue of St. Ludmila is part of the terrace in front of the church, home to seven statues of Czech saints and patrons — alongside Ludmila stand St. Wenceslaus, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Prokop, St. Agnes of Bohemia, and St. Clement Maria Hofbauer. The terrace forms a kind of gallery of figures tied to Czech church history, broadening the pilgrimage site's central Marian theme with a wider panorama of native sainthood.

When the statue was made

The statue dates from 1953 and is the work of Jan Tomáš Fischer, a sculptor from Znojmo. It was created as part of a broader expansion of the pilgrimage grounds with sculptural features, carried out between 1946 and 1954 under parish priest Father Josef Parma, who did much to develop Hluboké Mašůvky as a pilgrimage destination. The Statue of Christ in Gethsemane and other elements of the site date from the same period.

Why the statue stands in Hluboké Mašůvky

Hluboké Mašůvky has been one of South Moravia's notable pilgrimage sites since the 17th century, centered above all on devotion to the miraculous statue of the Madonna of Foy on the church's main altar. The terrace of Czech saints, including St. Ludmila, adds to this central Marian message — visitors walking through the grounds pass not only the Marian shrine but also figures central to the foundations of Czech piety.

What else to see nearby

The terrace of statues stands right in front of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, just a few steps from other stations of the pilgrimage grounds — the Holy Sepulchre, the spring chapel, and the Statue of Christ in Gethsemane. Touring the whole complex on foot takes only a few minutes and suits families with children as well.

Frequently asked questions

Who does the statue of St. Ludmila depict? The grandmother of St. Wenceslaus, one of the most important Czech female saints and martyrs, whose remains were transferred to St. George's Basilica at Prague Castle in 925.

Where does the statue stand? On a stone terrace in front of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Hluboké Mašůvky, among six other statues of Czech saints.

When was the statue made and by whom? In 1953, by sculptor Jan Tomáš Fischer of Znojmo, as part of works on the pilgrimage grounds under parish priest Father Josef Parma.

Which other saints stand on the terrace alongside Ludmila? St. Wenceslaus, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Prokop, St. Agnes of Bohemia, and St. Clement Maria Hofbauer.

Is the terrace of statues freely accessible? Yes — like the rest of the pilgrimage grounds, it is open to visitors free of charge, directly in front of the main church.