GAREK, Martin: State Catholic Action in Levoča – Revolt in 1949

In 1949, the communist regime decided to take control of the Catholic Church in Slovakia and its believers through the so-called State Catholic Action. The response of Czech and Slovak bishops and ordinaries was swift, resulting in a pastoral letter titled The Voice of the Czechoslovak Bishops and Ordinaries in the Hour of Great Trial. The letter was to be read on June 19, 1949. The security authorities tried to prevent its publication, which led to many riots and revolts throughout Slovakia. One of the biggest revolts took place in Levoča. When officials of the Communist Party of Slovakia came to Levoča to negotiate with the local priest Jozef Vojtas, regarding the ban on traditional Levoča pilgrimage, it led to a gathering of believers and resistance against the communist regime. The believers guarded their priests and even attacked the apart ments of the regime officials and the National Security Corps station. Nearly 200 participants in the "revolt" were arrested, with 62 of them being tried and 52 being convicted. Ultimately, the main intention of the communists was not achieved, and the Levoča pilgrimage took place on a limited scale. The documents present the circumstances of the revolt and the consequences for some of those involved.