The Role of Prešov Bishop Pavol Gojdič in the Defence of the Religious Freedom of the Greek Catholics in Czechoslovakia

Pavel Gojdii, the bishop of Prešov, is now perceived by Slovak society as a symbol of the struggle against fascism and communism in the 20th century. The bishop’s actions and opinions strengthened his contemporaries in the struggle for religious freedom, and even today he is an inspiration in the defense of democracy. In the 20th century, he played a key role in the Greek Catholic Church with an outreach to the whole of society. He was able to actively speak out in favor of the persecuted Jews and during the communist period he resisted the oppression of the regime in order to save the maximum of the Greek Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia. The text of the article highlights his significant role in the defense of religious freedom under both political regimes. It cites specific events that highlighted his views. Particular attention is paid to the process of interrogation and his imprisonment, where he was subjected to torture and oppression by the communist regime. Ten years in prison enhanced the positive features of his personality and left a strong legacy in the memory of his fellow prisoners and society, who learned of his fate vicariously after his martyrdom and during the beatification process in the 1990s.