Basil Hopko: Difference between revisions

Basil Hopko was born in the [[Rusyns|Rusyn]] village of Hrabské, [[Austria-HungaryHrabské]], in the [[countySáros County]] of the [[ŠarišKingdom of Hungary]], presently in(present-day eastern [[Slovakia]]). His parents, Basil and Anna née Petrenko, were landless [[peasants]]. While Hopko was still an infant, his father was struck by lightning and died. His mother left him in care of her father, while she emigrated to the [[United States]] in search of work. When Hopko was 7 he was sent to live with his uncle Demeter Petrenko, a Greek Catholic priest.

He attended the Evangelical [[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]] in [[Prešov]], then [[Czechoslovakia]], graduating with honors in [[1923]]. Hopko studied at the Eparchial Seminary in Prešov. He had dreams of joining his mother in America, and of persuingpursuing his priestly vocation there, but the cost of recurring health problems left him unable to afford to travel. He later wrote thanthat when he finally decided to stay and to serve in his homeland, he was suddenly cured, and realized he washad been given a sign about his calling. He was ordained a Greek Catholic priest on [[3 February]] [[1929]].

He served as a parish priest ([[1929pastor]]-[[ (1929–1936]]) at the Greek Catholic parish in [[Prague]], the Czechoslovak capital, where he was known for his focus on the poor, the unemployed, and students. His mother returned from the USAmerica after 22 years and rejoined her son in Prague, becoming his housekeeper at the parish rectory.

In [[1936]] he returned to teach in Prešov's Eparchial Seminary, and was awarded the title of [[monsignor]]. He had already begun graduate studies at [[Charles University]] while in Prague, and he completed his Doctor of Theology in [[1940]] at [[Comenius University]] in [[Bratislava]]. In Prešov he headed the [[Eparchyeparchy]]'s publishing division, where he edited a monthly periodical.

After World War II, a growing Soviet BolshevikCommunist influence caused Bishop [[PaulPavol GojdichPeter Gojdič]] of Prešov to ask the [[VaticanHoly See]] for an [[Auxiliary Bishop]] to help defend the Greek Catholic Church. Hopko was appointed to the post on [[11 May]] [[1947]]. The Communist take-over of Czechoslovakia wreckedwrought havoc on the Greek Catholic Church. In [[1950]] it was officially abolished by the state as a religious organization, and its assestsassets were turned over to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. GojdichBishop [[Pavel Peter Gojdič|Gojdič]] was arrested and was imprisoned for life. Bishop Hopko was arrested on [[28 April]] [[1950]] and kept on starvation rations and tortured for weeks. Eventually he was tried and sentenced to 15 years for the "subversive activity" of staying loyal to Rome. He was repeatedly transferred from prison to prison. His health, physical and emotional, failed, and in [[1964]] he was transferred to a oldhome agefor homethe aged. He never recovered his health.

During the [[Prague Spring]] the Czechoslovak government legally cleared Hopko on [[13 June]] [[1968]] and the Prešov Eparchy was restored. However, activists insisted that a Slovak bishop be appointed to the [[Episcopal see|see]], and the Vatican[[Holy See]] named athe [[Slovaks|Slovak]] priest [[Ján Hirka]] as Bishop Hopko's successor.

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