Mar 04 2009
Being a Christian during Communism in Prague
Being a Christian during Communism in Prague
“Being a Christian during Communism” is the theme of a series of evening talks at St.Clements English-speaking Anglican/ Episcopalian Church in Prague. Every Thursday during Lent at 19:00 they will have a member of a different denomination speaking about their personal experiences and the experience of their churches during the times of communism in the Czech Republic.
Image used with permission.
The first speaker on 5th March will be the Right Rev. ThMgr. Dušan Hejbal, the bishop of the Old-Catholic Church in the Czech Republic. Born 1951 in Prague, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He soon become a close confident to Bishop Dr. Augustine Podoláka, especially during the difficult time of the communist persecution of Christians. He had to work in various blue-collar professions to make a living, at the same time working full time as a parish priest in Prague and making himself a name as a Christian folk/rock protest singer. After the death of Bishop Dr. Augustine Podoláka he was elected as his successor and consecrated in 1997. His motto as a Bishop became “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” During his leadership the Old-Catholic Church in the Czech Republic has grown considerably, especially with young families and students joining.
The Old-Catholic Church is since 1931 in full communion with the Churches of the Anglican Communion and since 2000 the Anglican/ Episcopalian Congregation in the Czech Republic is also officially the “English speaking congregation of the Old-Catholic Church in the Czech Republic”. A model situation that is seen by many as an example how ecumenism can lead to greater Christian unity. That means also that the speaker that opens this series of Lent talks is also one of the bishops of this Anglican/ Episcopalian congregation!
BTW, he promised to bring his guitar and mouth organ tomorrow and will hopefully sing some of his protest songs. More information about the speakers of the following Thursdays and directions to St. Clements can be found on the Anglican web site of Prague .
