Spišskí biskupi (original) (raw)

There are seven catholic dioceses in the Slovak republic (the six of latin rite and the one of byzantine rite), which constitute two church's provinces. The Diocese of Spiš si one part of eastern province, which is located near of the High Tatras in the area of Spiš, Liptov and Orava. The Dicoese of Spiš was established 220 years ago, in 1776. By this it linked with old traditions of the Abbey of Spiš. The most impo ant person of diocese is its head – a bishop. This book presents a summary bibliography dates of all the bishops of Spiš. There are in this work especially for first time pub-lished erbs of every bishop. The first bishop was Dr. Charles de Salbeck (1776 – 1785). He went to Slovakia after experiences of his life in Italy and Hungary and he had to made a normally duties of first bishop: he made a first visitation of diocese, he got the cathedral re-novated and bishop’s residence too. He established a sum¬mer bishop’s residence in Spišský Štiavnik. The second bishop was John Anthon de Révay (1787 – 1806). He was a tactful and smart diplomat. He established a fund, which had helped to next bishop to build a seminary. Archbishhop Michael Brigido (1807 – 1816) went to Spiš from Ljubljana, because of the Napoleon’s wars. He was actually a father of his priests and people, and dis-tributed Slovak religious books between the believers. He initiated a seminary in 1815. Dr. John Ladislav Pyrker (1819 – 1821) became a cistercian monk after his expe-riences with pirates. He was noted for extraordinary abilities to organize, that is why he became an opat. He stayed in the Diocese of Spiš just for a very short time, nevertheless he set a great influence: in 1819 he established the first Institute for Teachers in the Middle Europe. He had learned Slovak language and initiate the Slovak catechism for all over the diocese. He later became a patriarchal in the Ve-nézia and an archbishop in Eger afterward. Dr. Joseph de Bélik (1824 – 1847) was the second archbishop of the Diocese od Spiš, but he didn’t realize any extraordinary initiatives. Vincent de Jekelfalussy (1848 – 1849) was his successor and later he became the bishop of Szekesfehervár. Because of unpleasant political conditions he never became the bishop of the Diocese of Spiš, but usually he is counted in the bishop’s list. The seventh bishop of The Diocese of Spiš was Dr. Ladislav Záboyský (1850 – 1870). He functioned during the difficulties after revolutionary time and didn't no-tice interestings of any nationality – he functionated as real catholic priest with demanded virtues of the head of diocese. He had an influence on the educational system, the youth and on the Slovak feelings too, because of the celebration of Mi-lenium of coming of St. Cyril and Metodius in Great Moravia (Veľká Morava) in 863, which had taken place in 1863. Prof. Dr. Joseph Samassa (1871 – 1873), a very educated man, but he stayed there for a short time, because he was recently appointed as archbishop of Eger. Dr. George Czászka (1874 – 1891) got the cathedral renovated to the image of today. Dr. Paul Szmrecsányi supported science, art and travelling. He looked adter Hungarizing of Slovak language. He was replaced from Spiš to Oradea. The eleventh bishop of Spiš was Dr. Alexander Párvy (1904 – 1919). He accom-plished his bishop’s duties in the ordinary way. Because of on the end of his life he suffered from very serious disease and that is the way auxiliary bishop was appoin-ted to him – Dr. Martin Kheberich. But he gave up of his rights after Dr. A. Párvy’s death and after the interment of goverment of Czechoslovakia. The first Slovak bishop became John Vojtaššák. He set a most important influ-ence in the history of the Diocese of Spiš and in the hearts of his believers. After The Second World War and by the pseudo-proces of a law-court he was sentenced to 24 years imprisoment. He suffered in the prison and that is, why we are speaking about him as a „white“ martyr. Inspite of amnesty in 1963 he needn’t return on the bishopric. He died in the ineluctable exile centre of Bohemia. John Paul II. appre-ciated his effort durin his second visitation of the Slovak Republic (31.6 – 3.7.1995). There was establi¬shed a commitee for the preparing of his beatification. J. Vojtaššák ordained to auxiliary bishop Dr. Stephen Barnáš (1849) secretly. But when it became a publicly known, they sentenced him to prison. 10 years after he was amnested, but he couldn’t practise bishop’s service. Up to date the bishop of The Diocese of Spiš is Doc. Dr. Francis Tondra (1989 – ). He renewed a seminary, after 40 years of inactivity because of communist regim. Andrei Imrich is his auxiliary bishop (1992 – ). The buildings of The Spišská Kapitula was declared as The Patrimonial mondial World Heritage of UNESCO in 1993.