The legend of Saint Procopius

Duke Oldřich founded the local Benedictine monastery at the urging of Saint Procopius, who had already lived here. Many legends relate to his stay. He miraculously restored the health of people nearby, drove devils from the possessed, blessed water and turned it into wine. He played skittles between Vlkančice and Sázava, while the devil had to set them up and fetch stray balls all the way down to Trapilka meadow beside the river. Saint Procopius also harnessed the devil to plough the Devil’s Furrow, a ravine-like feature running east from Černé Budy, then north through Lipany to Chotouň, his birthplace. Together with the devil he also ploughed the bed of the Sázava. The devil resisted, which is why the furrow is so uneven and the river winds. In 1033 Saint Procopius was appointed abbot of Sázava Monastery, where he died in 1053. He created an important cultural centre using the Slavonic liturgy. In 1204 he was canonised and his remains transferred to All Saints’ Chapel at Prague Castle. He is one of Bohemia’s four principal national saints; his attributes are a mitre and a chain with a devil.