Dissolution of the Greek Catholic Church

"They brought people of all sorts to the Black Eagle, people who had no clue as to what was happening. There they declared they were breaking the union of Greek Catholics with the Pope and Church, and that they were embracing Orthodoxy. But those who were there had no right to that, no right to speak for Greek Catholics. There were dissenters there, and all kind of rabble. When they passed the motion, they went from the Black Eagle to the cathedral, where they met up with patriarch Jelevferij, who accepted them into the bosom of the Orthodox Church. But that was not voluntary, that was forced."

• born 25th June 1926 in Pozdišovce, Slovakia
• 1946-1950 - studied theology at the Seminary of Prešov
• end of April 1950 - dissolution of the seminary and spiritual administration - operation P
• 1950-1953 - military service with the Auxiliary Engineering Corps (Pomocný technický prapor, PTP)
• 1. 1. 1951 - secretly ordained a priest
• 1953-1955 - various jobs, while serving as a secret priest
• 27. 7. 1955-7. 2. 1958 - in hiding
• 7. 2. 1958 - arrested
• 1958-1960 - imprisoned in camp Dark Mine (Tmavý důl) in Rtyně v Podkrkonoší (coal-mining)
• 1960-1968 - gasworks employee
• 1968 - the Greek Catholic Church returned to legality
• 1969-1991 - master of ceremonies and actuary of the Prešov bishopric, parochial service
• Chancellor of the Apostolic Exarchate in Prague
• 2002 - named a Papal Prelate
• 2004 - appointed Titular Bishop of Abritt