Pavel Peter Gojdič
Slovak Greek Catholic bishop, martyr under the communist regime and recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for saving 1,500 Jews.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Youth, vocation, and ordination of Peter Gojdič, who became a Basilian monk under the name Pavol, and later Bishop of Prešov.
Peter Gojdič was born on July 17, 1888, in Ruské Pekľany, near Prešov, into a deeply religious Ruthenian family. His father, Štefan Gojdič, was a priest of the Greek Catholic Church, and his mother was named Anna Gerberyová. After completing his secondary studies in 1907, he studied theology in Prešov and then at the major seminary in Budapest. He was ordained a priest on August 27, 1911, by Bishop Ján Vályi. After various ministries, desiring an ascetic life, he entered the monastery of the Order of Saint Basil the Great at Černecia Hora on July 20, 1922, taking the name Pavol. On September 14, 1926, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Prešov, consecrated titular Bishop of Harpasa on March 25, 1927, in Rome by Bishop Dionýz Njaradi, and became the residential Bishop of Prešov on July 17, 1940.
Life and Work
Pastoral, social, and heroic action of Bishop Gojdič, notably for the rescue of 1,500 Jews during the Second World War.
From his appointment, Bishop Gojdič committed himself to being a father to orphans and a support for the poor. Nicknamed the "bishop with a heart of gold," he founded an orphanage, created the first Greek-Catholic gymnasium in Prešov, and supported the teachers' academy. During the Second World War, under the regime of Jozef Tiso, he firmly opposed anti-Semitic laws and deportations. He published a critical pastoral letter in 1939, ordered the issuance of false baptismal certificates, and hid many Jews in Catholic institutions. His courageous action saved approximately 1,500 lives, which would earn him the posthumous title of "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem in 2007.
Path to Holiness
Persecution by the communist regime, refusal to renounce his faith, life imprisonment, and martyrdom at Leopoldov prison.
After the communist coup of 1948, the Greek Catholic Church was declared outlawed during the pseudo-synod of Prešov in April 1950. Bishop Gojdič categorically refused to break unity with the Pope and to join the Orthodox Church, despite the pressures and offers from the government. Arrested on April 28, 1950, and tortured, he was sentenced in January 1951 to life imprisonment for high treason and espionage during a show trial alongside Bishop Ján Vojtaššák and Bishop Michal Buzalka. Transferred to several prisons (Ruzyň, Valdice, Ilava, Leopoldov), he endured humiliations and forced labor. His sentence was commuted to 25 years in 1953. Exhausted by the mistreatment, he died at the Leopoldov prison hospital on July 17, 1960, on his 72nd birthday.
Beatification and canonization
Exhumation, legal rehabilitation, and beatification of Bishop Gojdič by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
Buried anonymously under the registration number 681 at the Leopoldov prison cemetery, his remains were exhumed on October 29, 1968, during the Prague Spring and transferred to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Prešov. Legally rehabilitated on September 27, 1990, by the Czechoslovak justice system, he received a visit from Pope John Paul II, who prayed at his tomb in 1995. On November 4, 2001, John Paul II solemnly proclaimed him blessed and a martyr in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
Spirituality and legacy
Episcopal motto, devotions, and posthumous tributes paid to Blessed Pavel Peter Gojdič.
The life of Bishop Gojdič was guided by his episcopal motto: "God is love, let us love Him!" (Boh je láska, milujme ho!). He held a deep devotion to the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Virgin of Klokočov. In 2018, he was declared the patron of the city of Prešov. Posthumously, he was awarded the Order of T. G. Masaryk by the Czech Republic and the Pribina Cross by Slovakia.
Frequently asked questions about Pavel Peter Gojdič
Who was Pavel Peter Gojdič?
Slovak Greek Catholic bishop, martyr under the communist regime and recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for saving 1,500 Jews.
What is Pavel Peter Gojdič the patron saint of?
Patronage of Pavel Peter Gojdič: Prešov and Prešov.
How did Pavel Peter Gojdič die?
Pavel Peter Gojdič suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith (20th century).
Which saints were contemporaries of Pavel Peter Gojdič?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
What are the other names of Pavel Peter Gojdič?
Other forms of the name: Pavol, Peter, Paolo and Pietro.
Who are the relatives of Pavel Peter Gojdič?
Relatives of Pavel Peter Gojdič: Štefan Gojdič (father) and Anna Gerberyová (mother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1960
- Beatification in 2001 by John Paul II
Quotes
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Life is not difficult, but it is very serious
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With the help of God, I want to be a father to the orphans, a support for the poor, and a comforter for the afflicted
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I am now 62 years old and I sacrifice all my possessions and my residence, but I will in no way deny my faith, for I want my soul to be saved.
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God is love, let us love Him!
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