Sestry Bazilianky
Albinovska, 1010
078 01 Secovce
Tel.: (421) 56 678 2748
viceprovincia99@ gmail.com
History
The beginnings of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Vice-Province reach back to the time when the monastery
Superior in Presov, Slovakia, Sister Magdalena Humeniuk,
in consultation with Blessed Bishop Pavlo Gojdic, OSBM
blessed and mandated Sisters Pavlina Vasilko, Jozafata
Hamorska and Pachomia Petrik to Secovce for ministry
among the Byzantine Catholics in Slovakia in 1945. Sisters
began teaching in a Middle school and a primary school.
In 1950, after the Presov Sobor (assembly),
which forcibly required the Greek-Catholic clergy and
faithful to accept Orthodoxy, Basilian Siters suffered
the fate of the Catholic Church, liquidation and exile
to the Czech Republic. There Sisters worked in various
fields remaining more permanently in Svitavy at the
Institute of Social Services. Return to Secovce was
impossible even after the "Presov Spring" - Revolution
of 1969. With the victory of democracy, returning to
Secovce became a reality.
As various positive and favorable developments
converged, on April 10, 1991, the Administration in
Rome established Secovce as the center of a new Delegature.
Sisters chose Saints Cyril and Methodius, Apostles of
Slovakia, for their patrons. The Delegature became a
Vice-Province on January 30, 2001.
In addition, the Vice-Province founded
a monastery in Trebisov in 1990 and in Levoce in 1992.
They expanded their ministry also to Bratislava and
Vranov n/ Topl'ou.
Through prayer, personal dedication and
holy lives Sisters work to attract young women to consecrate
themselves for the service of the Lord.
Ministries
Following
in the footsteps of Saints Cyril and Methodius,
the great Evangelizers of the Slavic people and
those of our Founders, Saint Basil the Great and
Saint Macrina, Sisters center their lives on prayer
and dedicated service to the Byzantine Catholic
Church and God’s people in the areas of
Secovce, Trebisov, Levoca, Bratislava and Vranov
nad Topl’ou. By their way of life and work
Sisters are the praying, healing and life giving
presence to those they serve. |
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The
Saint Cyril and Methodius Monastery in Secovce, with
its beautiful Chapel dedicated to the Three Holy Bishops,
is the seat of the Vice-Province leadership and administration.
At the Monastery is the novitiate where new members
learn the monastic way of life. Young Sister-students
who attend institutes of higher education live in this
monastery and continue their formation as Basilian Sisters.
A majority of the Sisters of the Vice-Province also
reside in the monastery in Secovce and conduct their
apostolates from this center.
The different apostolates of the Vice-Province
are:
Planning,
organizing and conducting youth encounters and meetings
with children, which include various spiritual activities
with them
Providing and organizing spiritual renewals for students
of St. John the Baptist High School
Organizing and providing monthly spiritual renewals
for Church Schools teachers
Teaching Bible lessons according to age levels to acquaint
the children with the Scriptures according to their
capacity to comprehend, as preparation for “Know
Your Scriptures” contest
Conduct the Saint Luke School of Iconography
As sacristans care for Liturgical Vestments, bake “prosphora”
(communion bread)
Cantor and lead congregational responses during various
Liturgical services
Visit the abandoned and sick
Provide services for travelers
Plant and care for a small garden near the monastery
Work for mutual unity between the Roman Catholic and
Greek Catholic parishes
Sew and repair liturgical vestments and provide other
liturgical items.
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All
is done in a spirit of fervor and dedication for
God’s greater honor and glory. Through prayer,
personal dedication and holy lives Sisters work
to attract and encourage young women to choose
virginity as a way of life and to consecrate themselves
for the service of the Lord. Having entered into
the Third Millennium, Sisters await with open
hearts and hands for the Holy Spirit to guide
them by His inspiration where He will. |
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