Anniversaries of Vicar General Jozef Zorvan
Anniversaries of Vicar General Jozef Zorvan

Summary/Abstract: Backround: In March of 2024, the 142nd anniversary of his birth, and in February of 2024, 62 years since his death Jozefa Zorvana, vicar general for Slovak Greek Catholics, from 1940 to 1950 Bishop Mons. Pavol Peter Gojdič. Core of Work: In 1918, he was transferred with his whole family to the rectory in the former Klembark, now Klenov. There, in addition to priestly duties, he undertook educational work with the people. He established a fruit orchard and grafted fruit trees, especially different types of cherries. His two-harves cherry orchard was famous, and people from all over came to pick cherries for a small fee. He also taught people to graft, and the poor village in the basin thrived with a variety of fruits. He founded a beekeeping association and, as an avid mushroom picker, introduced people to edible, lesser-known, tasty mushrooms that enriched the modest variety of their diet. He treated cataracts with the sacred oil of myrrh so successfully, that even people from abroad, who had cataracts visited him. He wrote many articles for the publisher Matica Slovenská, which are stored in the archives in Martin. In Prešov, he was part of the comittee who approved the changes to the eastern rites of the seminarians. At that time, national struggles were taking place between Ruthenian and Slovak seminarians. The Ruthenians (Rusins) were in the minority and were not recognized. He founded a volunteer theater in Klenov. He directed talents such as Janko Borodáč, Jozef Matys and others. He published mainly in the magazine Apostolát of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, some of which he published under the pseudonym Karpaty. Together with his wife, he was a founding member of the Slovak Museum Society. From 1922 he went on the Velehrad Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage, where he served the main liturgy in the Old Slavonic language. He established cooperation with Moravian enthusiasts and with Olomouc archbishop ThDr Anton Stojan. After the establishment of the Jednoty (Union) of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Michalovce, he became its first chairman. Conclusion: Jozef Zorvan dedicated his whole life to the welfare of the church and to the uplifting of his people. Thank God for that educated, tenacious and fruitful priers. May his memory be honored!

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