Ján Sokol
Encyclopedia
Ján Sokol is a Slovak
priest and former Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Trnava.
, before being ordained as a priest in 1957. He was subsequently a chaplain
in Šurany
(1957–58), Levice
(1958–60), Bratislava-Nové Mesto
(1960–66) and Štúrovo
(1966–68). From 1968 to 1970 he was a prefect at a Roman Catholic seminary in Bratislava, before working again as a chaplain in Sereď
in 1970–71, and was a dean
there until 1975.
He was pronounced an Apostolic Administrator
of the Archdiocese of Trnava (not to be confused with the present-day Archdiocese) in 1987, and appointed as a titular bishop of Luni
in May 1988 and ordained bishop in June 1988 in the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Trnava
. He became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bratislava-Trnava in 1989.
On 14 February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI
appointed him as the Archbishop of the newly-created Archdiocese of Trnava, with a special privilege to wear pallium
despite no longer being a metropolitan bishop
. In accordance with the canon law
, upon reaching 75 years of age, he requested to be released from his office. Pope Benedict XVI named Róbert Bezák
as his successor on 18 April 2009.
, the president of the WWII Slovak State.
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
priest and former Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Trnava.
Life
He studied at a grammar school in Topoľčany and studied theology and philosophy in BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, before being ordained as a priest in 1957. He was subsequently a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in Šurany
Šurany
Šurany is a town and a railroad hub in the Nové Zámky District, Nitra Region, southern Slovakia.Alongside the main settlement, it has the boroughs of Kostolný Sek and Nitriansky Hrádok, both annexed 1976....
(1957–58), Levice
Levice
Levice is a town in western Slovakia. The town lies on the left bank of the lower Hron river. The Old Slavic name of the town was Leva, which means "the Left One"....
(1958–60), Bratislava-Nové Mesto
Nové Mesto, Bratislava
Nové Mesto is a borough of Bratislava, in the Bratislava III district. It is located north and north-east of the Old Town. The borough also borders Rača, Vajnory, Ružinov, Lamač and Záhorská Bystrica boroughs.-History:...
(1960–66) and Štúrovo
Štúrovo
Štúrovo is a town in Slovakia, situated on the River Danube. Its population in 2005 was 11,172.The town is situated opposite the Hungarian city of Esztergom. The Mária Valéria bridge connects the settlements. The bridge was destroyed in 1944 during World War II, but reconstructed in...
(1966–68). From 1968 to 1970 he was a prefect at a Roman Catholic seminary in Bratislava, before working again as a chaplain in Sereď
Sered
Sereď is a town in southern Slovak Republic near Trnava, on the right bank of the Váh River on the Danubian Lowland. It has аpproximately 17,000 inhabitants.It has a hotel, cinema, culture house, many restaurants and confectioner's shops.-Geography:...
in 1970–71, and was a dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
there until 1975.
He was pronounced an Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the Archdiocese of Trnava (not to be confused with the present-day Archdiocese) in 1987, and appointed as a titular bishop of Luni
Luni, Italy
Luni is a frazione of the comune of Ortonovo, province of La Spezia, in the easternmost end of the Liguria region of northern Italy...
in May 1988 and ordained bishop in June 1988 in the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
. He became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bratislava-Trnava in 1989.
On 14 February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed him as the Archbishop of the newly-created Archdiocese of Trnava, with a special privilege to wear pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
despite no longer being a metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
. In accordance with the canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, upon reaching 75 years of age, he requested to be released from his office. Pope Benedict XVI named Róbert Bezák
Róbert Bezák
Mons. Róbert Bezák is a Slovak bishop. He is current archbishop of Trnava. He was consecrated on June 6 by cardinal Jozef Tomko.-References:...
as his successor on 18 April 2009.
Controversy
Ján Sokol is listed as having cooperated with the former Communist Czechoslovak secret police, according to the documents from Ústav pamäti národa (ÚPN, Nation's Memory Institute), however, he denied any cooperation. He is also criticized for praising Jozef TisoJozef Tiso
Jozef Tiso was a Slovak Roman Catholic priest, politician of the Slovak People's Party, and Nazi collaborator. Between 1939 and 1945, Tiso was the head of the Slovak State, a satellite state of Nazi Germany...
, the president of the WWII Slovak State.