In February of 2024, the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Slovakia asked the Archdiocese of Košice to open the beatification process for the Conventual Franciscan novice, Friar Eliáš Štefan IGLÓDY (1621-1639). Štefan IGLÓDY was martyred inside the territory of this Slovak Archdiocese, even though he spent most of his short life growing up in the town of Kisvárda, in present-day Hungary.

On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Archbishop’s Curia in Košice hosted the swearing-in of the Commission of Historians who are working on Friar Eliáš Štefan’s beatification process. When a bishop wants to open a beatification process, he must appoint, by decree, at least three experts in history and archives to form the aforementioned Commission of Historians. Their task is to search for and collect all the writings of the Servant of God that have not yet been published, as well as all historical documents, whether printed or in manuscript form, that may in any way relate to the cause. There are three historians who will work as experts in this beatification process. One is Michal BADA, a scholar who has been extensively published in the field of history and ethnology, particularly regarding Hungary’s early modern period. Another is Mária LETZOVÁ, a historian and lecturer at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Trnava. She is an expert on the noble families of Hungary of the 17th century. Finally, there is, Father František PETRUŠKA, a priest of the Archdiocese of Košice, and the Vice-Rector of the Bl. Anna Kolesárová Pastoral Center in Vysoká nad Uhom, Slovakia. He is currently serving as the archivist of the archdiocesan archives in Košice.
The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by the Most Reverend Bernard BOBER, Archbishop of Košice, Slovakia. Others attending included Friar Martin Maria KOLLÁR, the Provincial Custos of Slovakia, and Friar Jozef SUKENÍK, the Vice-Postulator in this process. We wish the historians many blessings from God and the joy of discovering the mysteries of the life of Friar Eliáš Štefan IGLÓDY.

The work of collecting historical documents and preparing the session of the archdiocesan tribunal will be concluded this spring. We invite all the friars to join us in praying for the beatification of Friar Štefan, and to pray for all those who collaborate on his cause. Anyone wishing to learn more about this religious man can read a post featuring his biography at: https://www.ofmconv.net/en/slovacchia-commemorazione-dun-martirio/ or watch the documentary broadcast last year on Slovak public television:

Slovak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKimNouAOtg&t=708s

Polish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYTK8nKtU0&t=76s

English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da3ApOeLt9E

Italian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZB7FZj8798

Hungarian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lanuz-5VqWU

Custodial Secretariat