- Condition: **
- Year: 2021-11-10
Saint Ludmila is one of the important predecessors of the first ruling Czech dynasty and the oldest Czech saint, known as a defender of Christian values and famous for her legendary charity. She greatly contributed to the establishment of the Přemyslid rule and the rise of Christianity in the Czech lands, the two cornerstones of modern Czech history.
Ludmila was born around 860 as the daughter of a local prince with a pagan childhood. When still a child, she was married to the first Czech documented Přemyslid prince Bořivoj I, who became the first Christian Duke of Bohemia in 873. She gave birth to several children including Spytihněv and Vratislav, who later became Czech rulers. Bořivoj and Ludmila were converted to Christianity through the efforts of Saint Methodius, which significantly helped support the growing predominance of the Přemyslids in the Czech lands. Ludmila supported Bořivoj in his efforts to convert Bohemia to Christianity. Bořivoj died before his first-born son reached adulthood and Bohemia was taken over by the Great Moravian prince. Despite expectations, Ludmila refused to live a secluded life as a widow. Instead, she continued her involvement in politics and helped transfer powers back to her sons and secure independence of Bohemia from Great Moravia. When the first-born son Spytihněv died and was succeeded by his brother Vratislav, Ludmila raised her grandsons Václav (Wenceslas) and Boleslav. When Vratislav I died, Ludmila continued to raise the future duke Wenceslas together with Wenceslas’s mother Drahomíra acting as regent. Each woman had different opinions on political and religious matters in the country and the related method of upbringing of the prince. Ludmila emphasised development of natural piety combined with education and Christian values. Drahomíra, on the other hand, did not favour Christianity and wanted to raise her son as a tough, uncompromising ruler. The controversy eventually led to the murder of Ludmila who was strangled because shedding blood for the faith could make Ludmila a Christian martyr.
When Wenceslas took over control of Bohemia, he moved the remains of his beloved grandmother to St. George’s Basilica in Prague. She soon became venerated as a patroness of Bohemia. She was officially canonised in 1144 as the first Slavic saint.
Method of printing - recess print from flat plate combined with offset and silk-screen print in the print run of 31 000 miniature sheets