400 Years of the Evangelical Church in Slovakia

The Evangelical Church in Slovakia is celebrating its 400th anniversary these days. In addition to official ceremonies, speeches and events, there are joyful celebrations in honor of the anniversary that should not be missed during a holiday in Slovakia.

On 3 July 2010, celebrations in honor of the anniversary of the Evangelical Church in Slovakia began with a church service in the market square of Žilina . In his sermon, Slovak Bishop Milan Krivda expressed his gratitude for the religious freedom that has taken root in Slovakia. Žilina was chosen as the location for the celebration because the Slovak Evangelical Church was founded there in 1610. During the socialist era in Slovakia, the Evangelical Church faced a difficult situation in relation to the much larger Catholic Church. However, the church in Žilina, where Slovakia’s first Evangelical synod was established in 1610, was not provided by the Catholic Church: during the “Counter-Reformation,” the Evangelical Church in Slovakia lost all 880 of its churches and cathedrals to the Catholic Church by 1680—even though more than 90 percent of Slovaks belonged to the Evangelical denomination until 1670.

Holidaymakers staying in hotels, holiday apartments and holiday homes in Slovakia currently have numerous opportunities to attend a celebration in honor of the anniversary of the Evangelical Church in Slovakia. Those hoping to make a last-minute use of the summer holidays, which have just begun in several German states, for a trip to Slovakia will find a well-balanced selection of attractive and affordable holiday homes, holiday apartments and hotels in Slovakia among the listings at www.slowakei-netz.de.