Father Vasil Hopko of Hrabske, Slovakia was serving on the faculty of the Byzantine Catholic seminary of Presov when, following WW II, the Communists came to power in his country. In response to a request of Presov's Bishop Gojdic for an assistant to face this threat to the Church, the Holy See chose Fr Hopko to become auxilary bishop of Presov (1947). In 1950 the Communists regime of Czechoslovakia declared the Byzantine Catholic Church within its borders disolved, and ordered the clergy and faithful of this Church to join the Orthodox Church. Arrested with Bishop Gojdic, Bishop Hopko was brutally tortured and interrogated for over a year in a futile effort to make him betray his faith. At length, he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. While serving his term, he was given low doses of arsenic, that gradually poisoned his constitution. Following his release, he overcam bouts of depression, induced by years of ill treatment, to resume his ministry to Slovak Catholics. He died on July 23, 1976.

Pray to God for us O holy Father Vasil for we earnestly have recourse unto thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.

Blessings and Peace to all.
Stephanos I

AMEN!

May his memory be eternal+

As far as I know, there isn't an icon of Blessed Basil Hopko available yet. If someone knows of one, I would appreciate information on how and where to order, etc.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Yes, one can order an icon of Bl. Basil (Hopko) of Medila from the Byzantine Seminary Press in Pittsburgh, PA.

(Prof.) J. Michael Thompson
Byzantine Catholic Seminary
Pittsburgh, PA

I contacted Byzantine Press about their Blessed Basil Hopko icon. The icon is a print mounted on wood, is 9 1/2" by 13", and costs about $40 with shipping ($34 without), in case others are interested.