History of the Greek Catholic Priestly Seminary in Prešov Greek Catholic Priestly Seminary in Prešov

An important part of every diocese was and will be to educate its future priesthood. The origins of such education in today's Prešov archdiocese and metropolis date back to 1880. It was founded during the time of bishop Dr. Mikuláš Tóth. Its opening dates back to September 12, 1880. Thus, after 62 years, since the foundation of the Prešov bishopric, the long-term desire of the local diocese to have its own seminary was fulfilled. 

The first rector of the seminary became the canon of the Prešov seat bishopric and seminary1905 professor of moral and pastoral theology, Alexander Rojkovics. Initially, 3rd and 4th year theologians from the Prešov diocese, studying at the Uzhhorod seminary, came to the seminary, joined by 7th and 8th year students of the Prešov grammar school. During the years 1881/1882, other theologians of the first and second year studying in Uzhhorod also came to the seminary. The total number of theologians in all years was 24, together with three professors. The priestly seminary was financially supported from the religious fund. 

 

Since the number of theologians in the seminary increased every year, in 1901 a plan was drawn up for the expansion of the seminary. At the time of the reconstruction, there were already 40 theologians and 4 professors in the seminary. The language of instruction was Hungarian, because it was a period of forced Magyarization. The beginnings of the theologians' lives were not easy at all. They were often dependent on help from people from the city and the countryside. 

The seminar during the time of Bishop Pavel Gojdič can be characterized as an effort to keep him at a spiritual height. In his pastoral letters, he called on the faithful and the clergy to contribute and support the seminary. For these purposes, he established the so-called seminar fund Seminary. He regularly visited the seminary once a week to speak a spiritual word. Among other things, he found time for dialogue, which was connected with solving problems related to theological and spiritual formation of theologians. He took part in mid-year or end-of-year examinations of theologians in order to know the knowledge of theologians in the given fields. The promising development of the seminary stopped only in 1950, when the seminary was dissolved and the leaders of the seminary were imprisoned. 

The situation was relieved only in 1968. Among other things, the Greek Catholic Church began to demand the restoration of its theological faculty and the formation of theologians in the seminary. The state authorities rejected this request and the theologians had to study for 23 years with a limited number at the Roman Catholic theological faculties in Bratislava and Litoměřice. 

The year 1989 marked a change for the company. The new political regime brought real change for the Church as well. In 1990, the Greek Catholic Church renewed the activities of the priestly seminary and the theological faculty. On November 3 of the same year, the Priestly Seminary was opened with the Faculty of Theology in Prešov, which belonged to one of the faculties of the Pavel Jozef Šafárik University in Košice.

Since 1998, the Priestly Seminary has belonged to the Prešov University together with the Theological Faculty.

Rectors of the Priestly Seminary in Prešov:

2019 – ____ – Mgr. Vladimír Sekera Mikluš
2010 – 2019 – ThDr. Miroslav Dancák, PhD.
2007 – 2010 – ThDr. Marko Rozkoš PhD.
2003 – 2007 – PaedDr. Vasil Kormaník
1999 – 2003 – prof. ThDr. Vojtech Boháč st., PhD.
1996 – 1999 – PaedDr. Michal Kučera
1993 – 1996 – František Puci
1990 – 1991 – PaedDr. Vasil Kormaník
1943 – 1950 – Imrich Sedlák
1941 – 1950 – Mons. ThDr. Myron Podhájecký
1933 – 1943 – Anton Rojkovič
1928 – 1933 – Simeon Smandray
1897 – 1918 – Jozef Mižičko

Vice rectors of the Presov Seminary: 
2020 – ____ – PaedDr. Peter Milenky
2016 – 2020 – Mgr. Jozef Gača
2010 – 2016 – Mgr. Jozef Urvinitka
1999 – 2007 – ThDr. Miroslav Dancák, PhD.
2007 – 2010 – ThLic. Miroslav Šimko, PhD.
1998 – 1999 – Mgr. Jozef Mati
1996 – 1997 – Mgr. Jozef Čekan
1992 – 1993 – Mgr. Peter Pavel Haľko OSBM
1990 – 1993 – Emil Turiak
1944 – 1945 – Vojtech Salamon
1943 – 1947 – Mons. Michal Sabadoš
1943 – 1943 – Pavol Rusnák
1929 – 1933 – Pavol Petrík
1923 – 1943 – Imrich Sedlák
1888 – 1899 – Ján Bezeghy
1884 – 1888 – Ján Romoňák
1881 – 1884 – Ján Gojdič

Prefects of the Priestly Seminary in Prešov: 
2021- ____ – Mgr. Ján Vasiľ
2011 – 2021 – Mgr. Marek Belej
2006 – 2016 – Mgr. Jozef Gača
2007 – 2010 – Mgr. Jozef Urvinitka
2002 – 2007 – Mgr. Daniel Šarišský
2001 – 2003 – ThDr. Miroslav Iľko, PhD.
1999 – 1999 – Mgr. Jozef Michalič
1998 – 2001 – Mgr. Ján Koščo
1998 – 1999 – ThDr. PaedDr. Miroslav Janočko
1997 – 1998 – SEOLic. Pavol Tomko CSsR – prefekt seminaristov a štúdium na PIO v Ríme
1996 – 1997 – Mgr. Peter Sabol
1989 – 1990 – Mons. ThDr. Ján Babjak SJ, PhD. (Kňazský seminár CMBF v BA)
1939 – 1947 – Emil Suchý
1936 – 1938 – Mons. ThDr. Myron Podhájecký
1936 – 1936 – Bazil Steranka
1933 – 1935 – Teodor Bobák

Spirituals of the Priestly Seminary in Prešov:
2020 – 2023 – ThLic. Ľuboslav Petričko
2020 – ____ – Mgr. Marek Kaľata
2016 – ____ – Mgr. Jozef Harvilko
2018 – 2020 – Mgr. Marcel Pisio
2017 – 2018 – Mgr. Milan Mojžiš
2014 – 2017 – ThDr. Marek Durlák
2008 – 2014 – Mgr. Jozef Paraska CSsR
2003 – 2008 – ThLic. Igor Suchý
2003 – 2016 – Mgr. Ján Karas
2001 – 2004 – ThLic. Jonáš Jozef Maxim
1999 – 2001 – Ing. Mgr. Peter Komanický
1999 – 2003 – Mgr. Marek Pulščák
1998 – 2001 – Mgr. Oto Gábor
1997 – 1998 – Mgr. Peter Sabol
1996 – 1998 – Mgr. Peter Geletka
1994 – 1996 – Mgr. Vladimír Skyba
1993 – 1995 – Mgr. Daniel Šarišský
1993 – 1994 – Mgr. Anton Mojžiš
1990 – 1993 – Mons. Peter Rusnák
1936 – 1943 – bl. ThDr. Vasiľ Hopko