SPILLVILLE, Iowa — The feast of St. Wenceslaus, the Czech duke who became a revered saint, will be celebrated with a special program Thursday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, Iowa.
The evening starts with the Old Time Community Band performance at 6 p.m., followed by a "Life of St. Wenceslaus" pageant by local school children at 6:30 p.m. and a Czech Heritage Mass, with music written by Joan DeVee Dixon , at 6:45 p.m. A reception, with Czech treats, will follow the Mass. Dixon, an organist, has performed frequently in the Czech Republic.
Wenceslaus, or Vaclav in Czech, lived in the 10th century. He was said to be a just and fair ruler, and his legend grew after he was assassinated, allegedly by his brother, in 935. He has come down through history as the "Good King Wenceslaus" of the Christmas carol. His name and a statue also adorn the famous Wenceslaus Square in the heart of Prague, the Czech capitol.
Spillville was settled by Czech immigrants and retains a strong connection to its Czech heritage .
