Early Life and Formation
Pavol Peter Gojdič was born on 17 July 1888 in Ruské Pekľany, a village in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Slovakia. He was the son of a Greek Catholic priest, Štefan Gojdič, and Anna Gerberyová. Raised in a deeply Christian household, young Pavol was formed in a spiritual environment steeped in the Byzantine Rite and Catholic tradition.
He studied at the gymnasium in Prešov, later entering the Greek Catholic seminary in Prešov, and continued his theological studies in Budapest. His piety and love for the Church were evident early on, and he was ordained a priest on 27 August 1911.
Religious Life and Episcopal Ministry
Feeling called to a more profound spiritual life, Fr. Pavol entered the Order of Saint Basil the Great (OSBM) in 1922, taking the monastic name Peter. His religious formation deepened his ascetical life and increased his devotion to prayer and fasting.
In 1927, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Prešov, and in 1939, he was named its bishop. As bishop, Blessed Pavol Peter Gojdič stood out for his fatherly care of the faithful, unwavering orthodoxy, and defense of the Catholic Church against totalitarian ideologies.
He had a particular love for the Holy Eucharist, Marian devotion, and pastoral catechesis. He promoted the veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and worked tirelessly to strengthen the faith of his flock amid political pressures from both fascist and communist regimes.
Persecution and Martyrdom
With the rise of Communism after World War II, the Eastern Catholic Churches in Eastern Europe came under intense persecution. The regime aimed to forcibly unite them with the Orthodox Church and sever their communion with Rome.
Bishop Gojdič refused to renounce communion with the Holy See, despite threats and bribes. In 1950, the regime orchestrated a false synod in Prešov, declaring the Greek Catholic Church’s union with Rome annulled. Bishop Gojdič was arrested on 28 April 1950 and subjected to a show trial in 1951. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
While in prison, he endured harsh conditions, isolation, physical abuse, and psychological torment, yet remained firm in his faith. Even while offered freedom in exchange for joining the Orthodox Church, he declined, saying:
“I am a Catholic bishop. I remain faithful to the Pope until death.”
He died a martyr’s death in prison on 17 July 1960, his 72nd birthday, at the Leopoldov prison in Slovakia, as a result of inhumane treatment and lack of medical care.
Beatification and Legacy
Blessed Pavol Peter Gojdič was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on 4 November 2001 in Rome, recognized as a martyr for the faith and a witness of fidelity to Christ and His Church in the face of anti-religious oppression.
He is often referred to as a “Bishop with a heart of gold,” due to his deep charity, humility, and courage. His relics are venerated in the Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Prešov.
Spiritual Legacy
Blessed Pavol Gojdič is an example for:
- Bishops and priests: as a model of episcopal courage and fidelity.
- Monastics: for his asceticism and Basilian discipline.
- The persecuted faithful: for his unyielding adherence to the Faith under totalitarian rule.
His motto encapsulates his life:
“God is love – let us love Him.”