Few folk tales from the Middle Ages have survived into modern times, and they are often found in unusual sources, such as the lives of saints. The story of Procopius of Sasau tells how ordinary Czechs believed in a miracle worker who fought demons and defended Slavic traditions. Medieval portal.net speakWhat's interesting about this case?
Procopius of Sasau, or Saint Procopius, is one of the most famous Czech saints of the Middle Ages, although his brief biography does not attract too much attention. He founded Sasau Monastery (after which it was named) in central Bohemia around the 11th century. Like many who shouldered the burdens of monastic life, he was a convinced ascetic. Prokop led a humble, devout lifestyle, and the monastery he created became an iconic cultural center of the Czech Republic. It is not surprising that his memory is honored by canonization.
But if you look more closely at the history of Prokop, you will notice traces of folk legends. For example, about how he founded the monastery. Prokop decided to go into the wilderness to lay the foundation for the monastery, which was not unusual. Residents of monastic establishments chose such an exceptional life to renounce material wealth and devote themselves entirely to religion.
However, Prokop decided that his monastery would be located inside a cave – and this is where the fun begins. Hermits, or desert fathers, became monks in the early Middle Ages simply by going to live in caves in the desert; in fact, that is why they are called hermits. But they lived in the desert in the 3rd century – or 800 years earlier than when Prokop decided to do the same. Later, the church began to view such expressions of faith more negatively, as the clergy preferred that monks create controllable organizations.
Apparently, the Bohemians who followed Prokop did not care about the wishes of the church. To those who tell his story, the monk's willingness to live in a cave is proof of his holiness and world-denying, regardless of what others think.
It's worth noting that Prokop didn't choose a random cave. He is said to have found a cave where demons lived. The life of the saint from 1379 tells that when he entered the cave, he immediately heard the groans of evil spirits, and the demons could not stand Prokop's holiness, so they retreated to their own homes. This story is another example of the local saint myth in action. Ordinary Czechs were not at all worried about what the official church might think about the fantastic expulsion of demons from the cave. They needed a saint who behaved like a saint – that is, he lived like a hermit and was not afraid of the devil. If people must pray for intercession, then they need someone who can overcome evil forces, for example, someone who can be called to heal those who are possessed by demons.
After the victory over the demons, the monastery founded by Prokop quickly attracted followers. But at the same time, it cannot be called a standards organization. Unlike most monasteries in Christendom, Prokop decided to follow the Slavic tradition rather than Latin: he used the Old Church Slavonic language and alphabet that Cyril and Methodius brought to Czech lands in 863.
The monastery flourished and Prokop lived the rest of his life caring for the sick, sometimes expelling demons from the possessed and feeding the poor. But unfortunately, the saint's influence waned after his death. Due to political motives, Prokop's nephew Vit, who was chosen as his successor as abbot, was dismissed by Prince Spytignev II. In his place, they placed a German-speaking monk, who quickly replaced the Slavic tradition with the Latin tradition, and filled the monastic ranks with like-minded people.
Prokop's spirit could not bear such behavior so his ghost returned to restore order. According to legend, Prokop in the form of a spirit appeared to the abbot and threatened him with punishment from God if he did not leave the monastery. The new leader of the monastery ignored the ghost's warnings, and on the fourth day, he returned to beat him with a stick and force him out of the monastery.
An evil ghost with a nationalist view of language is not usually a classic choice for the church, but Czechs love this story. Czech speakers are often suspicious of their German-speaking compatriots and consider them greedy. To the Czechs, German speakers symbolized the encroachment of the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, putting Slavic speakers at a disadvantage. Prokop gave Czechs a miracle that they can happily talk about.
Thus, Prokop is the embodiment of a local saint, building on popular ideas about what a saintly hero is. The Czechs needed someone who could protect their interests, someone who could ward off demons or Germans.
