Benedictines again in Slovakia
Benedictine abbey of Andrej Svorad in Cleveland (USA) is the only Slovak abbey in the world. Its former Abbot Teodor Kojiš visited Slovakia in 1947. In Spišská Kapitula he was with Spiš bishop Ján Vojtaššák, who highly appreciated the activities of Slovak Benedictine monks in the United States, who used to live and work on Zobor at Nitra and on Skalka at Trenčín. His biggest desire was to renew the presence of Benedictine monks in Slovakia, where the sons of St. Benedict where they were preaching to our ancestors 1250 years ago. The abbot visited also Levočský Mountain, where he wanted to build a monastery for Benedictines, so they could take over this famous pilgrimage place.
None of these plans materialised because the Catholic Church in Slovakia was threatened by communist state. This will to renew the Slovak Benedictines is still alive and supported by the present Abbot of Slovak Benedictine monks in Cleveland - Klement Leo Železník.
During the 11th – 18th century there were twelve Benedictine monasteries in Slovakia. The most important of them was the abbey of St. Hypolitus on the slope of Zobor at Nitra. In this monastery, the first two Slovaks Andrej-Svorad were canonised Benedict and belonged to this monastery until they left for Skalka at Trenčín. Both are patrons of the Nitra diocese. Their remains are placed in the shrine of holy Emerámus in Nitra. At the end of 18th century, precisely in the year 1786, there was a large reformation in Europe the Benedictines were expelled from the area of Slovakia by Jozef II.
After the fall of communism in Slovakia in 1989 the Benedictines of Cleveland have being trying to find a way to renew the Benedictine abbey. After almost 600 years Vladimír Kasan was trying to achieve this. He was searching for cooperation with Slovak Benedictines in Cleveland, but due to language barriers this cooperation did not succeed so he united with the polish Benedictines from Tynec at Krakow. Bishop of Banska Bystrica Rudolf Baláž has given them a church and an old priest house in Bacúrov ( at Zvolen), which they are repairing themselves so they may use it as a monastery. Currently it is known as House of St. Benedict. The religious order is functioning as a devoted society of Benedictine priests, and consists of nine members. Five fathers and four brothers, there are two new monks in the process of being trained.
The Benedictine tradition is closely connected with the Slovak history. The first mention of Benedictine monks in this area dates from before the mission of Cyril and Method. Reliable information regarding the activities of sons of St. Benedict in Slovakia date from the 9th and 10th century. From these times numerous abbeys and residences were built. It wasn’t a few of them, but in the time of Turkish expansions riots and anti-Hapsburg uprisings some of the monasteries were abandoned and attempts at renovation were suppressed in the 18th century. Even though occasions devoted to St Benedict from of Nursia are more or less dead in Slovakia there is still a hope for revival of the spirit in people’s faith entering the third millennium.
Benedictines - history
Benedictines are monks. If spirituality has its origins in the oldest expressions of life devoted to god and church. The main feature of monk’s spirituality is to “be with god”, to this end monks are getting closer with the help of meditations, daily fasting. Benedictine in his promise commits himself to live the monk’s lifestyle to obedience according to rules and remain. Progress of Benedictines is connected with the time of reforms in the church in the 19th century where a very important role was played by monasteries connected with the Cluny abbey. In this time there was a new movement emerging from Benedictine monks so called the “poor monks”. New branches were created which are nowadays known as Cistercits, Kamalduli etc. From this time we can speak of independent Benedictines as religious order. Benedictine abbeys were united into different forms of congregations, while at the same time autonomy of particular monasteries were identified. And meanwhile they were keeping their own tradition. Between the 10th and 16th centuries many abbeys were being burdened by emperors, because they were forcing them so called “komendatarijných opátov”.
Benedictines went through a very serious crisis in the 19th century when many monasteries were abolished. At the beginning of the 19th century there are new centres of renovation of Benedictines life founded in France (abbey Solesmes) and in Germany (abbey Beuron).
Renewal of Benedict life in Europe has brought big harvest of monasteries on other continents, (American Africa Asia). The demand of this renewal is a return to roots. Benedictines began to study the rules of St Benedict, their own spirituality but also the holy scriptures (Revision of Vulgata), church fathers study in separate monasteries a renewal liturgy and Gregorian chants. This reform has influenced the whole church it encouraged studies of patristic, inspired liturgy movement and a council renewal of liturgy.
From the command Pope Leo XIII, there was a Benedictine confederation founded, the reason for this confederation was for closer cooperation between particular congregation, which were uniting the autonomy abbeys and priories. At the head of the confederation is the head Abbot, his seat is the Abbey of St Anzelmus of Rome which is also a centre of Benedictine studies.
None of these plans materialised because the Catholic Church in Slovakia was threatened by communist state. This will to renew the Slovak Benedictines is still alive and supported by the present Abbot of Slovak Benedictine monks in Cleveland - Klement Leo Železník.
During the 11th – 18th century there were twelve Benedictine monasteries in Slovakia. The most important of them was the abbey of St. Hypolitus on the slope of Zobor at Nitra. In this monastery, the first two Slovaks Andrej-Svorad were canonised Benedict and belonged to this monastery until they left for Skalka at Trenčín. Both are patrons of the Nitra diocese. Their remains are placed in the shrine of holy Emerámus in Nitra. At the end of 18th century, precisely in the year 1786, there was a large reformation in Europe the Benedictines were expelled from the area of Slovakia by Jozef II.
After the fall of communism in Slovakia in 1989 the Benedictines of Cleveland have being trying to find a way to renew the Benedictine abbey. After almost 600 years Vladimír Kasan was trying to achieve this. He was searching for cooperation with Slovak Benedictines in Cleveland, but due to language barriers this cooperation did not succeed so he united with the polish Benedictines from Tynec at Krakow. Bishop of Banska Bystrica Rudolf Baláž has given them a church and an old priest house in Bacúrov ( at Zvolen), which they are repairing themselves so they may use it as a monastery. Currently it is known as House of St. Benedict. The religious order is functioning as a devoted society of Benedictine priests, and consists of nine members. Five fathers and four brothers, there are two new monks in the process of being trained.
The Benedictine tradition is closely connected with the Slovak history. The first mention of Benedictine monks in this area dates from before the mission of Cyril and Method. Reliable information regarding the activities of sons of St. Benedict in Slovakia date from the 9th and 10th century. From these times numerous abbeys and residences were built. It wasn’t a few of them, but in the time of Turkish expansions riots and anti-Hapsburg uprisings some of the monasteries were abandoned and attempts at renovation were suppressed in the 18th century. Even though occasions devoted to St Benedict from of Nursia are more or less dead in Slovakia there is still a hope for revival of the spirit in people’s faith entering the third millennium.
Benedictines - history
Benedictines are monks. If spirituality has its origins in the oldest expressions of life devoted to god and church. The main feature of monk’s spirituality is to “be with god”, to this end monks are getting closer with the help of meditations, daily fasting. Benedictine in his promise commits himself to live the monk’s lifestyle to obedience according to rules and remain. Progress of Benedictines is connected with the time of reforms in the church in the 19th century where a very important role was played by monasteries connected with the Cluny abbey. In this time there was a new movement emerging from Benedictine monks so called the “poor monks”. New branches were created which are nowadays known as Cistercits, Kamalduli etc. From this time we can speak of independent Benedictines as religious order. Benedictine abbeys were united into different forms of congregations, while at the same time autonomy of particular monasteries were identified. And meanwhile they were keeping their own tradition. Between the 10th and 16th centuries many abbeys were being burdened by emperors, because they were forcing them so called “komendatarijných opátov”.
Benedictines went through a very serious crisis in the 19th century when many monasteries were abolished. At the beginning of the 19th century there are new centres of renovation of Benedictines life founded in France (abbey Solesmes) and in Germany (abbey Beuron).
Renewal of Benedict life in Europe has brought big harvest of monasteries on other continents, (American Africa Asia). The demand of this renewal is a return to roots. Benedictines began to study the rules of St Benedict, their own spirituality but also the holy scriptures (Revision of Vulgata), church fathers study in separate monasteries a renewal liturgy and Gregorian chants. This reform has influenced the whole church it encouraged studies of patristic, inspired liturgy movement and a council renewal of liturgy.
From the command Pope Leo XIII, there was a Benedictine confederation founded, the reason for this confederation was for closer cooperation between particular congregation, which were uniting the autonomy abbeys and priories. At the head of the confederation is the head Abbot, his seat is the Abbey of St Anzelmus of Rome which is also a centre of Benedictine studies.
City Map
Partners
