[photograph of Blessed Basil]June 23
Saints of the Day
 

Blessed Basil Hopko, 1904-1976
The Auxiliary Bishop from Slovakia martyred by Communism from prison to prison

    Doctor of Theology in 1940. Auxiliary bishop of Prjashev on 11 May 1947.

    Arrested on 28 April 1950 as part of the Communist government's suppression of the Greek Catholic Church. He was kept on starvation rations and tortured for weeks, he was eventually given a show trial and sentenced to 15 years for the "subversive activity" of staying loyal to Rome He was repeatedly transferred from prison to prison, and continually abused. His health, physical and emotional, failed, and in 1964 he was transferred to a home for the aged and kept under guard there. Though he managed to overcome severe depression, and went on to minister to a group of 120 nuns imprisoned at the home, he never recovered his physical health.

    His death was a direct result of imprisonment, and he is considered one of the many martyred by Communism.
Born 21 April 1904 at Hrabske, eastern Slovakia
Died 23 June 1976
Beatified 14 September 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Additional Information
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb4i.htm
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Readings
I had to endure many difficult moments, which I would not wish even on my worst enemies. Nevertheless, I consider my prison days as a higher education in humility. In prison I learned a great many things, as how to be of service to others in their need. Prison in itself is not such a terrible place after all. What is frightening is the company one is forced to keep, being locked up in the same cell with all kinds of criminals, spies, insane, and some other strange characters.

- Blessed Basil

Saints of June 23:

http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0623.htm

  • John
  • Libert
  • Moelray
  • Peter of Juilly
  • Thomas Garnet
  • Walhere

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