Nationwide and church-wide commemoration of Jozef Miloslav Hurban in Beckov

By the occasion of the 200th anniversary of birth of Jozef Miloslav Hurban (1817-1888) was hold in Beckov nationwide and church-wide commemoration of evangelical pastor and superintendent, chairman of the first Slovak National Council, significant personality of the Evangelical Church and Slovak nation, on 19th March 2017.

The commemoration was hold under the patronage of the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and the President of the Self-Governing Region of Trenčín. The commemoration was also organized in cooperation with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia, village of Beckov and others.

The Worship Service of the commemoration was broadcasted live by the RTVS- Radio and Television of Slovakia. The preacher at the Service was the General Bishop of the ECAC in Slovakia Miloš Klátik. He preached on the text from Hebrews 13:7-9: „Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food ...“. Be strengthen by his grace, be steadily in faith, good courage and strong, to act in this way, that the similar words as which were said about Dr. Jozef Miloslav Hurban can be applied on us. Jozef Miloslav Hurban was self-sacrificing evangelical pastor, fighter for the Church and nation, thinker, who sacrificed life to the service of God and his friends.“

The General Inspector of the ECAC in Slovakia said: „It is not enough remembering on the witnesses of faith, but it is necessary to imitate their faith. Imitate! – it is call for us. The purpose of the Church is to serve and give a good example, which is worthy to follow, to be a conscience of the nation.“

The President of the Self-Governing Region of Trenčín Jaroslav Baška turned on the audience with question: „What would we be willing to do to be better around us?“ Then followed the call to threw egocentrism away, to start thinking not about itself only, but about people around us, our environs.

After the Service was hold an act laying wreaths to the commemorative board of the J. M. Hurban. By this occasion was given a new board by the ECAC in Slovakia. Then was held the opening a renewed exposition of the J. M. Hurban. Part of the program was inauguration of the postage stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jozef Miloslav Hurban.

Photos: Edita Škodová