Francis Dvorník – a World-Renowned Byzantinist
Francis Dvorník – a World-Renowned Byzantinist

Summary/Abstract: Msgre Prof. ThDr. Francis Dvorník (14/8/1893 – 4/11/1975) is considered one of the foremost Byzantinists of the 20th century; in the history of Czech Byzantine Studies he is certainly regarded the greatest and most important personality. Unlike most other European countries in the Czech lands, Byzantine Studies did not evolve from classical philology, but from their outset, they have been almost always connected with Paleoslovenic and, in particular, Cyrillo-Methodian Studies. In a similar way, began also the academic career of the young priest Francis Dvorník. He was born in a small Moravian village named Chomýž, located under the Hostýn Mountain. At the top of this mountain stands the famous pilgrimage church dedicated to Virgin Mary, the patroness of Moravia, which Dvorník liked to visit later on in life. His parents were farmers on one of the foremost farmsteads, which had belonged to the family for several generations. They were pious people and the mother desired that Francis, their fi rstborn, would become a priest.

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