THE PIARIST ORDER IN SLOVAKIA

Comenius 2013-2015

Table of Contents

Slovakia in the 17th century Arrival of the piarists Slovak piarist churches and monasteries in

the Hungarian province Establishment of the Province of Slovakia Today's situation

Slovakia in the 17th century

Three important events:

1. Turkish expansion

2. Anti-Habsburg uprisings

3. Conflict between Catholics and Protestants

Slovakia: integral part of the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary.

Podolínec

In 1642 piarists from Poland came to Podolínec.

This first community gave rise to all the current central-European provinces.

Piarist schools spread step by step from Podolínec to Prievidza, Brezno, Sv. Jur, Nitra, Krupina, Ružomberok, Sabinov, Senec, Banská Štiavnica, Trenčín and Levice.

Their mission was to provide free education for poor children.

In 1721 all the houses in the Slovak territory became part of the Province of Hungary.

Difficult beginnings

Churches or monasteries were often damaged or destroyed by the fire.

Lessons used to be cancelled because of epidemics or wars.

School facilities and monasteries were usually used as accommodation for soldiers during the war.

Age of Enlightenment

Reforms of Empress

Maria Theresa and

her son emperor

Joseph II had a significant impact on

school system.

Maria Theresa founded Collegium oeconomicum in Senec, first higher school of engineering in Hungary and assigned the Piarists to lead it.

In Austro-Hungarian Empire

1848/49 Revolution

Bach‘s absolutism

Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867

The network of pious schools reached its maximum. In total the Piarist order supervised 11 grammar schools and

several piarists lectured at universities and seminars.

Famous allumni

bishops:

priests:

writers:

painters:

J. Vojtaššák, M. Bubnič, K. Kmeťko;

A. Hlinka, Dr. J. Tiso;

J. Nižňanský; F. Belopotocký, Ľ. Fulla.

In Czechoslovakia

1918 the end of WWI, establishment of Czechoslovakia

1919 nationalization of piarist schools 1930 foundation of the Province of Slovakia 1938-1944: short lasting revival during the

Slovak Republic

Under communist regime

1948: Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia

May 1950: Barbarous night: Piarist fathers, brothers as well as students were arrested by State Security Service and imprisoned in a concentration monastery in Hronský Beňadik.

Due to Provincial Father Jozef Horvátik SchP. and his work in secret, the Piarist order did not perish and could restart the Province after 1989.

1993 Foundation of the Slovak Republic.

Today

4 monasteries: Nitra, Prievidza, Trenčín and Svätý Jur 15 priests, 1 deacon, 3 brothers - students current Provincial Father P. Ján Kováč, SchP.

Piarist churches

Piarist churches in Nitra, Prievidza and Trenčín are listed as cultural sites and belong to the most beautiful structures of the

Baroque style in Slovakia.

Rich interior decoration

Baroque = drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture

Illusive paintings

Nowadays – 3 schools

TRENČÍNPiaristické gymnázium Jozef Braneckého4 and 8-year grammar school

NITRAPiaristické gymnázium sv. Jozefa Kalazanského4 and 8-year grammar schoolPrimary school - new

PRIEVIDZAPiaristická spojená škola Františka HanákaPrimary school, Grammar school,Secondary professional school, Nursery school

Statistics

140 teachers

1500students

Calasanzian sports games

Calasanzian forum

Each year one of the piarist school hosts Calasanzian forum –

teachers‘meeting

Piarist order „online“

History of the order in Slovakia.

Presentation of the Province of Slovakia.

Presentation of all the activities organised by the Piarist order or piarist schools in Slovakia.

Planned activities.

www.piaristi.sk

Kalazans

summer camps

concerts

spiritual events and renewals

sports events

courses

Children and Youth association Lay organization connected

with the Piarist order.

International community

Meeting of piarist clerics from Italy and Central Europe in Dolný Smokovec in 2013

The Piarist Youth Meeting (PYM) 2013 in Kecskemét with the participation of Slovak piarist students.

To be continued...

"The good education of youth is indeed a most worthy ministry, the noblest, the most worthy, the most beneficial, the most useful, the most necessary, the most natural, the most reasonable, the most pleasant, the most attractive and the most glorious.“

St. Joseph Calasanz

Thank you for your attention