Orthodox Christians in Prague and Tetín held services commemorating Saint Ludmila of Bohemia, one of the earliest Christian rulers of the Czech lands and one of the most venerated saints in the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

On September 28, a solemn Akathist service dedicated to Saint Ludmila was held at the Basilica of St. George at Prague Castle, according to the Prague Orthodox Diocese. The service was led by Archbishop Michael of Prague and the Czech Lands. Worshippers also had the opportunity to pray at the saint’s tomb, which is located inside the church.

The following day, September 29, a pilgrimage Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of Saint Ludmila in Tetín. The site is traditionally associated with the final years of the princess’s life and her martyrdom. Clergy from the Prague Orthodox Diocese and pilgrims from different parts of the Czech Republic and other countries took part in the service.

Saint Ludmila lived in the late ninth and early 10th centuries and is regarded as one of Bohemia’s first Christian rulers. She was the wife of Prince Bořivoj I of the Přemyslid dynasty. According to church tradition, Ludmila embraced Christianity following her husband’s conversion, which took place through the ministry of Saint Methodius or one of his disciples.

Ludmila became known for her charity and care for the poor, widows and orphans. After her husband’s death, she helped raise her grandson Wenceslaus, who later became Saint Wenceslaus of Bohemia and one of the principal patrons of the Czech lands.

In the final years of her life, Ludmila settled in Tetín. She was killed in September 921 and, according to tradition, was strangled with her own veil. Church tradition associates her death with Princess Drahomíra, the mother of Wenceslaus, although the historical circumstances surrounding Ludmila’s murder remain the subject of scholarly study.

After her death, Ludmila came to be venerated as a martyr. Around 925, her grandson Wenceslaus transferred her relics from Tetín to Prague, where they were placed in the Church of St. George. Her tomb remains there today.

Saint Ludmila’s feast is commemorated annually in September. She is regarded as an important figure in the Christianization of Bohemia, with her legacy closely associated with the development of the Christian tradition that later influenced the cultural and religious history of the Czech lands.