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SUMMARY OF THE
SPRING ISSUE
Volume 11, No. 2, Summer 2003
Slovak
Heritage Live
A quarterly newsletter
published by Vladimir Linder
Spring issue was published in
May and it was mailed to 1200 recipients world wide.
Part of the walls of Trenč�n's castle collapsed on March 7, 2003
FROM THE EDITOR
As of this issue The Slovak Heritage
Live newsletter is being published and edited by Vladimir Linder. I will
honor all the subscriptions, formerly paid to the Society and I will also
write off all the receivables from the long time non-payers. There is only
one subscription amount and that is US$25.00 and we are keeping the Slovak
Friend subscription at US$150.00 and Slovak Heritage Circle
subscription at US$250.00 with all the benefits explained in the enclosed
application form for your perusal. If your subscription has expired,
doesn�t matter how long ago, I would really appreciate if you would mail
in a personal check of US$25.00 and you will be renewed for additional
year from now until summer 2004. I feel this is a great deal if you like
to learn about Slovak Heritage, history, culture, customs, folklore, and
many different aspects of Slovak life.
I have to tell you that I am still down over $800.00 for publishing the
Spring 2003 issue and there will be an additional cost of over $1361.00
for producing this issue. I would like to recover that as soon as
possible. You know that I won�t be able to recover this amount without
your subscriptions and additional generous financial support. I would like
to ask each and every one of you if you can spare additional amount over
your subscription you know it will be welcomed.
Our web pages have reached
another milestone in April as we got a total of 200879
hits with an average of 6995 hits per day. In April most visits were from:
Slovak Republic, Hungary, Canada, Poland, US Educational, Germany,
Australia, United States, Romania, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Italy,
Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, France, Russian Federation,
Lithuania, US Government, Finland, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand,
Denmark and Israel.
Vladimir
FROM THE
MAIL BAG
Dear
Mr. Linder,
I am enclosing my check
for $25.00 to renew my membership for 2003. Do you have any information on
the Roma people who live in Slovakia? There have been a few very good
programs on television in the last couple of years, and one was a
particularly disturbing because of the bad treatment by Slovaks. It made
me feel ashamed. On your many trips to Slovakia, do you see and
improvement in their lives?
Also, I read with great interest your story on Jewish songs. My parents
and an uncle often told me stories about the Jewish people who lived in
their area and of their friendships. Most of these people died in the
Holocaust, and a very vibrant and important part of Slovak life was
forever lost.
Yours truly
Mrs. Mary H. (Pavlik) Switzer
22 Howard Ave.,
North Bay, Ont., P1A 1N6, CANADA
Editors
note: Yes I have seen the Gypsy settlements and they are terrible. They
tend to move into an area usually at the edge of villages and
start-building camps that look like movie set and all without permits and
sanitary services and the government doesn�t do anything about it. This
problem has been in Slovakia and other European countries for many years
and it won�t be solved over night. Seldom they work and they live from
the government support and child support payments and steal anything they
can put their hand on. But perhaps we do have a member that can write a
story on Roma population in Slovakia.
Enclosed
is a check for my subscription for Slovak Heritage Live till May 2004.
Also a small donation for postage.
Please �Continue� with captions under each of your pictures in the
newsletter.
Best
wishes,
Esther Fojt Cunningham
917 Hampshire Drive
Grand Prarie, TX 75050 USA
Have
you ever travel to Ni�n�
Kom�rnik? That�s where
I was born.
Mrs.
Mary Y. Marinovich
305 Eyland Ave.
Succaunna, NJ 07876 USA
Editors
note: Yes I have been to Ni�n�
Kom�rnik on several occasions. Three times photographing the church of
the defender of Mother of God and about four times on my way or going from
ancestral genealogical research trips in Poland...
MY
SPRING 2003 TRIP TO
SLOVAKIA
March
17, just as the war in Iraq was about to start I boarded a Lufthansa plane
and flew off to Frankfurt and Vienna. As I was waiting in the departure
bay they were calling for volunteers that wouldn�t mind to stay another
day in Vancouver and fly the same flight day later. I always thought that
the airlines are giving CAD$300.00 if you give up your confirmed seat.
Well later on while in the air I learned that the actual amount offered
was CAD$800.00. I was in shock and now it was too late to take it. Had I
known this, I would have stayed home for another night and my real cost of
my ticket would nave been only CAD$161.39. I have learned a valuable
lesson for next flight if this should happen again I would go and ask what
is the offered amount. Anyway the flight was smooth as usual arriving in
Frankfurt and Vienna on time. Here I was met by my long time friend and
one of our Slovakia�s correspondents Ing. Miroslava Dulov� who took me
to Bratislava. Here I picked my car at ADVANTAGE CAR RENTAL and I was
mobile. I stayed in Bratislava for few days to get over my jet lag.
Then I went to Eastern Slovakia to Liptovsk� Teplička and
Saturday I went to �dol near Star� Ľubovňa to visit
family of a friend of mine and also to make a video about the �dol
Greek Catholic Church of St. Dimitrij that is in need of funds for some
very urgent and necessary repairs. We will be distributing the video to
donors. The video is finished, but distribution will be decided by the
next issue.
My friends in �dol
I also
had an Ancestral Village Video to do in Orlov, a village near
by. Later on in the evening there was a folklore singers and musicians
competition in Svit, so I attended that and met many of my friends from
several folklore groups in the area. Sunday I went to Levoča visiting
Monsignor Dlugo�, decan of Levoča and continued to Pre�ov visiting
my friend Jaroslav Bohumile Onassise Biro� and his wife Helenka and
continued to Rusk� Nov� Ves where I did some ancestral Village
Photography. Then I went to Bardejov and near by village Kom�rov
where my frienf PhDr. Martin Me��a lives now. Martin is a former
director of Bardejov�s Skanzen and Slovak National Museum in Martin and
just moved from Bratislava�s UĽUV, home to eastern Slovakia after
accepting position with the Museum in Pre�ov. From here I continued
to �dol to film additional Sunday mass. Of course while in Spi� region,
as always I stayed at Liptovsk� Teplička�s pension DOLINKA.
Tuesday I went to Ko�ice to do some Genealogical research and visit
my friend Frater Gabriel at the Dominican monastery....
BRYNDZOV�
HALU�KY
WITH A TWIST
By: Pei Yuan Qi and Marcel York
First
of all you will need to go to a deli and get a Macedonian style feta
cheese. Take coup of feta cheese and mix it with light cream cheese to
create a soft almost runny bryndza. Take a medium size bowl and crack one
egg into it and add one and half cup of water. Stir until the egg is
completely dissolved in the water. Add a teaspoon of salt, peel two to
three medium size potatoes and grind them fine on hand grinder. Mix the
egg water with potatoes and add all-purpose flour to make medium runny
dough. Take a big pot and will it with water, add two tablespoons of olive
oil and two teaspoons of salt. Bring it to boil. Make halu�ky
with the help of halu�ky maker
or
by using a small cutting board and knife. You drop the halu�ky while you
making them into the boiling water. When they float to surface, they are
done. Keep on steering them and drain the water and wash them in warm
water. Cut u bacon in little squares and fry it. Get rid of all fat. Chop
parsley and add to bryndza together with bacon. Add halu�ky to the bowl
with bryndza and stir them. Serve with buttermilk.
THE
HISTORY OF LEVOČA AND HER RELICS
By: Mons, Doc. ThDr. ICLic. Franti�ek Dlugo�, PhD
Levoča
is located in the northern part of Horn�d�s hollow at the southern
foothills of Levoča Mountains, in the heart of one of the oldest and
characteristic regions of Slovakia-Spi�.
The surrounding area of Levoča was inhabited in early prehistoric
times in the Laten and Roman periods. Between 11th and 12th centuries
there were several settlements in the Levoča area. German colonists
settled in the area in 13th century. In 1271 Levoča became capital of
the community of Spi� Saxons and the entire Spi� region
Tallest Gothic altar in
the world
From
1405 Levoča is free Royal town and becoming more important. At the
beginning of 14th century Minorites settled at the edge of the town, they
built monastery and later on a church. The town burned down several
times and its inhabitants were struck by plaque.
In 1431 during Easter the town was invaded by the Hussites that were
returning from Krakow. It seems they didn�t win, but managed to burn the
town.
In 15th century Levoča became important and rich town once again.
In 1494 there was a secret meeting between four brothers Jagelonc. The
reformation began in town at the beginning of 1540. It was originally
believed that Levoča�s priest J�n Henkel join the Reformation
movement. The town officially joined the Reformation in 1544.
Spi� priest Martin Peth� tried in 1603-1604 to recatholicize Levoča.
It started by taking over the old church of Minorites July 12, 1671.
Catholics gained the parish church only in 1674. During the T�k�ly
uprising in 1682 the churches were taken from Catholics and returned to
the Lutherans. In 1684 Catholics gained back their churches, but still in
years 1706-1710 the church was split between Catholics and Lutherans. From
1710 Catholic Church administers the church...
THE
DEM�NOVSK�
CAVE OF FREEDOM
NATIONAL
NATURE MONUMENT
Cadastral
area: Dem�nov� Valley
District: Liptovsk� Mikul�
Reg
ion �ilina
Situated
on the right-hand slopes of the Dem�novsk� Valley in the northern part
of the Low Tatras National Park. Entrance to the cave is in Toči�te
Valley, 870 meters a.s.l.
It was formed in the Middle Triassic Gutenstein limestones of the Kr�ňansk�
nappe by the former underground flow of Dem�novka creek and its lateral
hanging ponor tributaries.
The cave-an integral part of an extensive cave system of the Dem�novsk�
Valley consists of four developmental levels into which steeply descending
lateral passages fall in hanging position.
The overall length of the Dem�novsk� Cave of Freedom exceeds more than
8400 meters. Sinter �water‑lilies� and other sinter pool
formations, as well as eccentric stalactites are unique among phenomena of
sinter filling. Mighty sinter waterfalls and stalagnates, sphaerolithic
stalactites and many other diverse forms of stalactites and stalagmites
are captivating.
MONS.
�TEFAN N�HALKA
1916-1975
Organizer of religious and cultural life of Slovaks living abroad.
By:
Mons, Doc. ThDr. ICLic. Franti�ek Dlugo�, PhD
Childhood
and studies
Mons. �tefan N�halka was born in small village under Kr�ľov� Hoľa,
Liptovsk� Teplička on March 16, 1916 at that time in Liptovsk�
Mikul� District, today District of Poprad. Four children were born to
his parents. Two boys and two girls. �tefan was second child. Sadly he
was born during First World War and after the war the life was very hard.
He attended the primary school in his birthplace and he has shown great
talent and was a very good student. It was hard to think of further
studies, there were no finances, nor the roads on which he could go to
high school.
When he was in sixth grade, new priest J�n Koči� came to serve in
the village. He selected two altar boys �tefan N�halka and �tefan Garaj,
he persuaded their parents, promised financial help and sent them study at
Gymnasium in Levoča, where he placed them in small seminary. The boys
were very conscientious. Beside studies, in which they excelled, they
participated in sacristan service in gymnasium church, for which they got
discount for their stay at Small seminary and in free time they were
giving lessons to weaker schoolmates. He successfully graduated in 1937
and after the summer school break he chosen to become a priest...
PERSECUTION
OF CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SLOVAKIA
IN THE MIRROR OF LEVOČA�S PILGRIMAGES
By:
Mons, Doc. ThDr. ICLic. Franti�ek Dlugo�, PhD
Slovakia
belongs to traditionally Catholic countries. It is only natural that
Marian Cult existed between Slovaks for a long time. It didn�t expand
only in Baroque era same as is some other countries. Connected with this
are several Marian Pilgrimage Sites, on whose the Marian Cult is not only
tradition, but it is very well alive today. Official Marian Pilgrimage
Site for whole Slovakia is �a�t�n. However much older and more popular
site in Slovakia is Marian Mount in Levoča.
In spite of unquestionable importance Marian Mount in Levoča for
spiritual life and today�s spiritual renewal of Slovakia until today her
history were only modestly documented in few brochures. It is connected
with very poor base source for older historical events of this pilgrimage
site. On the other hand Marian Mount played important role for keeping the
Catholic Religion during almost half a century of atheist communist
regime.
It was here, where the largest pilgrimages took place, which beside the
religious charge had also a political charge.
It
was in this place where Slovak Catholics demonstrated their rejection of
the communist ideology and politics in peaceful way a way of pilgrimages
and prayers, whose even Communist power, despite several precautions and
attempts couldn�t stop. That is how the Marian Mount in Levoča
became the symbol of Slovak Catholicism.
This was appropriately noted by the Holy Father John Paul II during his
visit to Levoča on July 3, 1995 when during his sermon beside other
things he said: �Marian shrines are places, where the Christ�s
testimony is becoming exceptionally effective. Many sons and daughters of
Slovakia are grateful to this Levoča�s shrine, for the truth about
God and believing in him were preserved alive in their hearts.�
(Holy Father John Paul II, on July 3, 1995 at Marian Mount in Levoča)....
PERSECUTION
OF CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SLOVAKIA
RESUME By: Martin Ferenec
CHAPTER
I
We have to introduce shortly the
history of the Church institutions and the juridical status in 1948 to
understand what the Church in Slovakia lost during the totalitarian
regime.
The Christianity spread in Slovakia in 9th Century. The Benedictine order
deserved well of this state. The Benedictines built the first chapel in
Spi�sk� Kapitula
probably as the parish church for the settlement located below their
monastery.
Spi�sk�
Kapitula, residence of bishops,
the first Hungarian teachers� academy since 1819, the Theological
University and Priests� seminary of Spi�, an important cultural and
religious center of Spi�,
is dating back to 12th Century.
At
that time, Spi� belonged to the Archdiocese of Estergom. King Imrich
established the Prepositure of Spi� in 1202. The lord of Spi� Castle and
the Prepositus of Spi� were the secular and ecclesiastical government.
Hungarian king Luis and Spi�sk� Kapitula asked Pope Clement VI to
establish a diocese in the area of Spi� in 1348. The Prepositure of Spi�
fulfilled all requirements to become an independent diocese.
When Peter Pazm�ny (1616-1637) became an Archbishop of Estergom, he
accepted the establishing of minor dioceses into his reform planes. The
Diocese of Spi� was in the first place among the establishing dioceses,
because, as Pazm�ny reports: The
Bishop had been there before.
When Maria Theresia (1740-1780) became the Austrian Hungarian emperor,
in spite of her absolute power, she was anxious about a good pastoral care
of her people, therefore she solved the matter of setting up the new
dioceses...
AGROKARPATY
PLAVNICA
Their wide assortment includes teas from cultivated and wild medicinal
herbs, fruits and forest berries, massage and herbal oils.
The medicinal herbs used in the
products of Agrokarpaty, s.r.o., Plavnica, are grown in an ecological
environment of Pieniny and Magura, in the vicinity of the High Tatras. The
same is true of the wild plants and wood berries picked.
All products are ecological and pure, i.e., without any artificial
flavors, coloring matter, and aromatics. Therefore, human organism accepts
them well and reacts to them positively. Foremost experts in phytotherapy
from Ko�ice, Nitra, Bratislava, Brno, Prague, and Uzhgorod participate in
preparing the individual tea blends.
The
Agrokarpaty, s.r.o., Plavnica was established in 1993. Its activities have
been focused on growing medicinal herbs. The hilly region of the Star�
Ľubovňa district may boast to be an ecological environment ideal
for growing ecological agricultural products. The main Agrokarpary�s
policy principles include well‑considered and economical treatment
of soil, and its optimum composition and fertility. For that purpose, they
make use of compost produced from their own garbage at the time of
post‑harvest treatment of medicinal herbs. In addition, the sowing
procedure is well‑balanced thanks to alternation of the plants
grown. This procedure is vital to maintaining and improving the fertility
of soil and to providing the plants with the necessary nutrients. Plant
alternation significantly contributes to the reduction of pests and
infectious germs in soil. Furthermore, we put emphasis on growing
intermediate plants for green manure, including deep �rooted and
flat‑rooted plants, to maintain a balance between the fertility and
an appropriate farming effectiveness. Plants are processed in a
highly considerate way, depending
on the specific conditions of ecological economy, with the maximum
priority attributed to the environmental issues. All of their products are
produced from ecologically pure ingredients, and are therefore ideal for
daily use. They have medicinal and/or strengthening effects...
For FREE sample issue of
The Slovak Heritage Live Newsletter
please send in or email your postal address to:
Vladimir Linder
3804 Yale Street
Burnaby, BC,
Canada, V5C 1P6
Phone/Fax:
1-604-291-8065
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only in North America
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TO SLOVAK HERITAGE LIVE MAIN PAGE
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Copyright � Vladimir Linder 2003
3804 Yale
Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced,
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the express written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights
reserved.
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