The directory «Plots»

Slomšek Anton Martin
(1800—1862)

The Slovene bishop, poet, writer, educator and great promoter of national consciousness was born on 26 November 1800 in Uniše - Slom near Ponikva. After finishing grammar school, he studied theology in Klagenfurt where he was ordained a priest in 1824. Whilst vicar in St. Lovrenc in the Bizeljsko area and in Nova Cerkev near Vojnik he distinguished himself as a preacher and organiser of primary and Sunday schools. His famous sermon "Dolznost svoj jezik spoštovati" (Duty to Respect One's Language) delivered in Moosburg in May 1834 bears evidence that at the time of his spiritual direction of the Klagenfurt Seminary his view on the nationality issue was already crystallized.
In 1846 the Archbishop of Salzburg appointed him Bishop of Lavant. In the years to follow he strove for the transfer of the See of Lavant from St. Andraz in Carinthia to Maribor, which he finally achieved in 1859. With the transfer of the See, diocesan borders were rearranged so that virtually all Styrian Slovenes were united in the diocese. Establishing a defence against the Germanisation of inhabitants living in the Slovenian Styria, this event had a profound influence on the history of Slovenes.
Slomšek was also the author of religious, school and educational books. From the series of his excellent textbooks, it is worth mentioning "Blaze in Nezica v nedeljski šoli" (Blaže and Nežica in Sunday School) as the most popular Slovene textbook for a long time. In addition, Slomšek also published the first Slovene songbook for schoolchildren "Šola veselega lepega petja za pridno šolsko mladino". In Maribor he established the first institution of higher education - the Theological Seminary. Moreover, on Slomšek's initiative the Mohorjeva druzba was established - which today is the oldest publishing house in Slovenia. He constantly fought for the equality of both provincial languages and against Germanization. Slomšek died in Maribor in 1862. His mortal remains are buried in the Cathedral of Maribor.
Due to Slomšek's cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and his theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, the pontifical process for his beatification was instituted as early as 1926 and the Apostolic process for the proclamation of his saintliness in 1964. In 1996, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him a "Venerable Servant of God". In 1999 Slomšek was beatified.

Slovenia, 1992, Anton Martin Slomšek

Slovenia, 1999, Anton Martin Slomšek

Slovenia, 1992.05.29, Maribor. Anton Martin Slomšek

Slovenia, 1994.12.24, Vuzenica. Anton Martin Slomšek

Slovenia, 1999.09.16, Maribor. Anton Martin Slomšek