NAVALIS John’s Celebrations 2018

Just like in the previous years, in 2018 we are again preparing the annual NAVALIS Saint John’s celebrations. For the first time we will be celebrating the jubilee tenth anniversary of the renewed Saint John’s water celebrations called NAVALIS, which are taking place in . On behalf of the St. John of Nepomuk Association production team, we would like to introduce you to the current project of these unique water celebrations, which are also a close link between the Czech and European historical roots. Saint John of Nepomuk – of the Italian Venice and gondoliers Allegorically decorated boats have always been and are an integral part of the celebrations. A place that serves as an example of exquisite narrative water celebrations is the Italian city of Venice. That is why every year, we invite Venetian gondoliers, who are becoming an integral part of these spectacular celebrations, to Prague. This connection is however not random or an end in itself. Saint John of Nepomuk is one of the patron of Venice and, most importantly, the water servants – gondoliers. The Venetian gondoliers and their beautiful boats will be the main protagonists of the 2018 celebrations in Prague. They will bring with them not only classic gondolas, but also the so-called Bissone, boats which participate in the most decorative traditional Venetian celebrations, including the Carnival of Venice. The Bissone have historically never left the Arsenal – the Venetian shipyard, and the visitors of NAVALIS will therefore get to enjoy their presence directly in Prague by the as the only ones in the entire world.

Water concert on the surface of the River – Venice in Prague

The 2018 NAVALIS Saint John’s celebrations will naturally be exceptional for the amount of boats that will come to the capital of the to celebrate their patron saint. NAVALIS 2018 will also further continue the renewed tradition with its unique music programme. In the Baroque era, the so-called water music was always composed for each individual year and according to this canon, the authorial music from the pen of composer Kryštof Marek will be performed for the third time already. The composer, conductor and recent holder of the Czech Lion award will introduce in a world premiere his symphonic composition in seven movements entitled Venice of St. John of Nepomuk.

Goals of the project The NAVALIS Saint John’s celebrations are an imitation of a former Baroque water performance, which had taken place in Prague on the Vltava River since the beginning of the 18th century. With our modern-day celebrations, which have continued in the tradition of one of the few Prague festivals since 2009, we want to restore its glory and most importantly, honour the cult of the life and death of John of Nepomuk. By introducing Saint John of Nepomuk’s spiritual legacy to the general public, the NAVALIS Saint John’s celebrations are a unique opportunity to remind both citizens of Prague and foreign visitors of the glory of the representative seat of the Czech Republic. The inhabitants of Prague have been becoming more aware of the NAVALIS Saint John’s celebrations with each passing year since their renewal, and as an integral event of the year, they are slowly gaining such fame as for example the Carnival of Venice and are becoming a destination for pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.

Celebrations schedule 14 May 14:00 – 18:00 Venetian afternoon in the Hergetova Cihelna 15 May 15:00 Formal decoration of horses (Hradčany Square) 17:15 Blessing of the horse riders, horses and pilgrims (Hradčany Square) 18:00 Festive Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Saint Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert 19:15 Saint John’s procession to the Charles Bridge 20:30 Boat regatta, parachutist jumps, winter swimming (Charles Bridge) 20:45 Worship in the St. Francis Church (Křižovnické Square) 21:15 World premiere of the Venice of St. John Nepomuk concert (under Charles Bridge) 22:00 Spectacular Saint John’s fireworks on the Vltava River