Podiven

Podiven (Podivín) is honored as a blessed in connection with Saint Vitus Cathedral in Prague. According to the legends of Saint Wenceslas, he was the servant and closest associate of the saint.

It is told that he was the only helper of Wenceslas in his most pious acts, and that he accompanied him on pilgrimages, in the baking of the communion breads and in preparing the wine for the Liturgy. When Wenceslas went to the feast at Stará Boleslav, Podiven went with him. He managed to flee but was overtaken and hanged. After his death the body remained hanging uncorrupted, and Podiven gained a reputation of blessedness.

According to tradition, he was buried outside the church in which the body of Saint Wenceslas rested. A body thought to be his was found later and is kept today in the Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert in Prague.

His veneration is local, in the tradition of the undivided Church; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known. The source is legendary and has no certain date.