St. Vitus is the patron saint of actors, entertainers, dancers, epileptics and Bohemia. Troubled by lightning, dog bites or oversleeping? Spare a prayer for St. Vitus.
After his martyrdom in the 4th century, his fame (and bones) spread rapidly through Europe. In A.D. 925, King Henry I of Germany visited Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia, and presented him with the bones of one hand of St. Vitus. The Duke built a Romanesque rotunda in the saint’s honor, subsequently replaced by St. Vitus Cathedral.
Random historical footnote:
Thanks to the dancing moves of medieval folk during his feast day, the saint has also lent his name to St. Vitus Dance, the common term for the neurological disorder Sydenham’s chorea. Sufferers typically experience uncontrollable jerky movements in their face, hands and feet.
