Religious Figure, Author. Ján Hollý, a Catholic priest, was the first Slovak author to write in the new Slovak language. Earlier authors wrote in various regional versions of Czech, Slavicized Czech or Latin. A Slovak patriot, he was an active member of the Slovak national revival. Not only did he translate into the Slovak language Virgil's "Aeneid," but works by Homer, Ovídius, and Horace. Born the son of a poor peasant couple, he published his earliest poems anonymously in Latin. He completed his philosophical studies in 1804 and studied theology at Marian seminary for four years, finishing in 1808. In August of the same year, he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. During his pastoral assignments, he was sent to several parishes, but in 1813, he was sent to Madunice parish. On his arrival in February of 1814, he found the village was recovering from yet another deadly flood. By 1817 he was promoting Slovak literature and culture. Called the "Father of the Slovaks," he was a priest, counselor and companion of poverty. Later in 1843, Madunice, a village of thatched-roof houses, burnt to the ground while he was their priest. Not only did he lose all his belongings at the rectory, he received impairing burns. It was at Madunice that he wrote his finest work. He wrote three epics in six years. He did not only write epics and folk tales, but composed odes to honor historical figures. In 1836 and 1840 he published a collection of poems "Lamentations and Holy Scripture." In 1846 he published "Catholic Hymnal." He died 1849 in Dobrá Voda. Besides his bust atop the obelisk on his grave, there are at least four other statues of him. One of him sitting in a chair is located at Bratislava. Another is a full statue of him in his robe, which is located in front of the Roman Catholic Church in Madunice, where he was a parish priest for 29 years. A statue is located at his birthplace. A bronze memorial plague with his bust was erected on a school building in 1985. Issued by the government in his honor, his image was placed on the 20-crown currency in 1942 and on a postage stamp in 1955. In 1950 a ten-volume collection of his writings was published.
Religious Figure, Author. Ján Hollý, a Catholic priest, was the first Slovak author to write in the new Slovak language. Earlier authors wrote in various regional versions of Czech, Slavicized Czech or Latin. A Slovak patriot, he was an active member of the Slovak national revival. Not only did he translate into the Slovak language Virgil's "Aeneid," but works by Homer, Ovídius, and Horace. Born the son of a poor peasant couple, he published his earliest poems anonymously in Latin. He completed his philosophical studies in 1804 and studied theology at Marian seminary for four years, finishing in 1808. In August of the same year, he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. During his pastoral assignments, he was sent to several parishes, but in 1813, he was sent to Madunice parish. On his arrival in February of 1814, he found the village was recovering from yet another deadly flood. By 1817 he was promoting Slovak literature and culture. Called the "Father of the Slovaks," he was a priest, counselor and companion of poverty. Later in 1843, Madunice, a village of thatched-roof houses, burnt to the ground while he was their priest. Not only did he lose all his belongings at the rectory, he received impairing burns. It was at Madunice that he wrote his finest work. He wrote three epics in six years. He did not only write epics and folk tales, but composed odes to honor historical figures. In 1836 and 1840 he published a collection of poems "Lamentations and Holy Scripture." In 1846 he published "Catholic Hymnal." He died 1849 in Dobrá Voda. Besides his bust atop the obelisk on his grave, there are at least four other statues of him. One of him sitting in a chair is located at Bratislava. Another is a full statue of him in his robe, which is located in front of the Roman Catholic Church in Madunice, where he was a parish priest for 29 years. A statue is located at his birthplace. A bronze memorial plague with his bust was erected on a school building in 1985. Issued by the government in his honor, his image was placed on the 20-crown currency in 1942 and on a postage stamp in 1955. In 1950 a ten-volume collection of his writings was published.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Gravesite Details
On May 11, 1854, a monument with a text by Ľudovít Štúr and a bust by the Slovak sculptor Ladislav Dunajský was unveiled at his grave.
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