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SUMMARY OF THE SPRING ISSUE

Volume 13, No. 1, Spring 2005

Slovak Heritage Live

A quarterly newsletter published by Vladimir Linder

Winter issue was published in February 2005 and it was mailed to 1200 recipients world wide. 


Last Supper by Master Paul from Levoča, from the church of St. James


FROM THE EDITOR
Thank you for renewing your subscriptions in such a large numbers and thank you all for all your donations. I sure hope that this trend continues throughout the year.
We had over 228000 hits on our Slovak Heritage Live site: www.slovakheritage.org i
n December 2004 and the visitors were from: USA, Canada, Slovak Republic, Unknown, European Union, Great Britain, Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Australia, Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Austria, Poland, France, China, Belgium, Italy, South Korea, Finland, Switzerland, Turkey, Russian Federation, Croatia, Norway, Slovenia, India, Portugal, Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Denmark, Lithuania, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Philippines, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Lebanon, Latvia, Romania, Argentina, Ukraine, Iran, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Malta, Luxembourg, Singapore, Iceland, Malaysia, Cyprus, Chile, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Pakistan, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan, Venezuela, Guam (USA), Colombia, Peru, Dominican Republic, Moldova, Faroe Islands, Nepal, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Togo, Mongolia, Macao, Georgia, Brunei, Darussalam, Micronesia, Uganda, Cambodia, Panama, Vietnam, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bangladesh, and Bahrain. This is simply amazing and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I seen the statistics.
During Christmas our web provider had some problems, so II switched the site to another, only to find similar problems at higher price. They were promising 100% up time guarantee and that was broken in few days. Later on I realized that there is no way anybody can give you 100% guarantee as the equipment has to be upgraded and it breaks as well. The statistics were not what I expected either as to get the hits by countries I would have to install some elaborate program and it would take too much of my time. So I switched back to my old provider and so far in January there were no down times at all. So perhaps they got the thing going finally. I registered another domain: www.vladimirlinder.com and I will set up web pages soon.
As you are reading this newsletter I am in Slovakia and you can reach me there if you need anything by email at: vlinder49@hotmail.com
or by phoning my cell at: 011-421-907-297-508.
I will return home on March 24. I wish you all Happy Easter.

FROM THE MAIL BAG
Dear Vladimir,
Enjoyed reading about your summer and fall trips to Slovakia in 2004 in the fall and winter issues of Slovak Heritage Live. Keep up the good work.

I have retired as a pastor of St. Teresa Avila Church in Sheffield, Ohio for 3 ˝ years. But I am still very active and busy assisting with masses, funerals, various services at neighboring parishes where I now reside. I enjoy assisting at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish (Slovak) here in Lakewood. Sharing our roots in Slovakia has been fascinating and educational.

I celebrated my 75
th birthday on December 13th and the 50th anniversary of my priesthood of my ordination as a priest on December 18th.
In the last issue of Slovak Heritage Live I noted a picture of Cardinal Jozef Tomko. We were classmates at the Lateran University in Rome 1959-1961.

I last visited Slovakia in the spring of 1982 and hope to return with my brother next spring 2006-GOD WILLING!

Please extend my subscription from 05-2005 to 05-2006. Enclosed is $25.00 for that. The other $25.00 can be used to further your work of up-dating us on life in Slovakia today.

God bless your family and mission.

Father Edward Luca

1532 Elmwood Ave.

Lakewood  OH  44107  USA

Dear Vladimir,
Sorry for the long delay in renewing my subscription. I really enjoy your articles, as they are most interesting.

I have been back twice to Slovakia, as my parents came from Prešov and I have family in Bardejov and Poprad.

Keep up the good work,

Betty A. Kozley
4950 Aviemore Dr.

Yorba Linda  CA  92887

Dear Vlado,
Enclosed is $30.00 for my renewal of my subscription.

I am president of the Slovak Society of Colorado. Our non profit organization works to keep our heritage alive. We meet monthly on the second Tuesday of each month. During the year we host many activities. Among them are our annual Fašiangy Celebration which this year will be held on Saturday Feb. 12 in Denver. A great band and lots of good Slovak and Czech beer makes for a lively event. During the summer we have our summer picnic, this year featuring free špekáčky for everyone. In October we have a big turn out for our Halušky Dinner. St. Mikuláš makes his appearance at our Christmas Party.

In September my husband and I will make our 9th visit to Slovakia. I shall take some of your magazines, which I have saved over the years, to share with our many friends. Keep up the good work.

Anicka Farrar
635 Estes St.
Lakewood, CO 80215 5412

Mr. Linder,
Thank you for the answer to my request, whether the Blessed Mother had appeared to anyone in Turzovka and whether a shrine or chapel had been built there.

I am pleased that there have been pilgrimages from all over the world, mostly in April, August, and October. We wish the Blessed Mother will bless the Slovak people and give peace to all people in the world.

Thanks again for the mention in the No.3, Fall 2004 issue.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mary C. Sigmund
34580 Pettibone Rd.

Solon  OH  44139  USA



In 1972 the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which defines cultural and natural heritage and its values and aims at protecting them for future generations, was adopted in the framework of UNESCO. On the basis of the Convention the most significant localities and buildings in the world with extraordinary cultural and natural value are inscribed on the World Heritage List. At present five Slovak localities are included in the list: Banská Štiavnica and its ancient mining works, Spiš Castle and the cultural monuments in its surroundings, Vlkolínec folk architecture reserve (since 1993), the Caves of Slovak Karst (since 1995) and Bardejov town conservation reserve (since 2000).
The district town of Bardejov, and administrative and cultural center of upper Sariš is located in the northeastern part of Slovakia.
Besides the impressive natural scenery it offers a wealth of cultural and historical monuments, which form one of the finest urban complexes in Slovakia.
The oldest written record on Bardejov appears in the Ipatijev chronicle from 1421. At the turn of 13th and 14th century colonists from Silesia settled near a hamlet lying on the main communication artery. In 1320 King Karol Róbert granted them extensive privileges, which accelerated the process of reforming the chartered village of Bardejov into a town. In 1376 King Ľudovít Iraised its status to that of a free royal town....


By: PAUL BERISH
My initial intent was to approach this story as nostalgia. But the dictionary defines nostalgia as “the state of being homesick” and as “wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for a return to or of some past period or irrevocable condi­tion.” This story is none of that. It is just a loving, sentimental account of some members of my paternal family. I am using their Eastern Slovak dialect an English translation for those who no longer speak the dialect or any Slovak at all. I was fortunate during my early years to live with my maternal immigrant grandparents, who spoke only Slovak and sometimes made English words Slovak, just as yours may have done. Also, during each grade in my grammar schooling in Binghamton, New York, the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius taught Slovak as a regularly scheduled course. So I learned standard Slovak, as well. For those who wish they could speak and understand Slovak, it is never too late to learn.
Now on to my story. Michael Berish was a widower, not just once but twice. I have no idea how long each marriage lasted, Like most of us, I did not ask questions until it was too late. My Aunt Mary told me that his first wife presen­ted him with a son who was baptized Michael. Some of us men cannot even boil water to stay alive, much less raise a motherless son. After the death of his second wife, every eligible woman in his village was reluctant to marry him. None of them was willing to leave him a widower for a third time. So Michael set out on foot to find a wife for himself and a mother for his son.
His journey led him to Sačurov and, being thirsty, he stopped in at the local tavern. Then, even as today, the bartender was always a font of information. He heard all the local gossip. Michael tapped into that font.
“Či mace tu alebo či znace m1adu dzivku alebo m1adu ženu ktora chce še vydac?” (Do you have here or do you know a young woman who wants to marry?)...


PhDr. Jozef LAPŠANSKÝ Francisciho 14 Levoča 054 01
Levoča’s Madonna in the Basilica at Marian Mount has open palms, she has an indication of smile on her face, and she is personifying harmonic accord of magnificence and passionate humbleness. With its looks the statute is creating an atmosphere of understanding, readiness and willingness to listen to everyone who wants to sincere confess from lived through agony or happiness to the Blessed Mary.
Admiration towards Mother of God was cherished in the hearts of our forefathers. Worshipers would run to Levoča’s Virgin Mary with confidence, young girls would find in her their ideal and suffering sense of their sorrowful destiny. “There isn’t a bigger obligation than the obligation to be thankful,” referred St. Ambróz. Pilgrimage mount with the church above the ancient jewel of Slovak cities is preserving the truth about the God, believing in him and it is providing unrepeatable opportunity for sincere thankfulness.

“Nobody can add up, how much plight was brought up to this mount and nobody could add up how much happiness was brought down from this mount.” (Mons. Bernard Bober-Košice helping Bishop in his holily July 2, 2004.

Be blessed spirit of God... Virgin Mary visited Alžbeta not to sing the triumphant Magnificent, but for her to humbly accept, live and to give the Christian world gift: from woman, she was elevated to Mother of God, same as were elevated and called poor fishermen to become Apostles of Christ...

ŠOMOŠKA CASTLE
Š
omoška castle is located right at the Hungarian border. While approaching on the road and looking straight at it you are actually looking from Slovakia through Hungary at the castle, which is in Slovakia. I visited the castle in summer of 1998.

Claming up the hill you will pass by stone waterfall, a range of basalt lava formations, which hardened into curved columns four million years ago and now resemble liquid rock pouring into a stone sea. Such basalt columns, which at this site are a haven for snakes and lizards, are found at few places on earth: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Northern Ireland, California and Wyoming and British Columbia.

Beginnings of Šomoška’s castle date back to 1291. It was completely built from hexagonal basalt columns. It was a very small castle as the top of the hill on which it stands is not very large. There was just one building with small triangular shaped courtyard. Later on it was fortified with two huge tower bastions. Third bastion was built at the entrance to the castle...

THE NITRA’S SYNAGOGUE
The Synagogue is a valuable architectural monument of Nitra, registered in The Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Slovak Republic. It is situated in Protective zone of the Historical Town Reserve.
As a result of Nitra’s Jeshurun community’s wish, it was built in 1910-1911 in Moorish-Byzantine style, according to the Project of Leopold Baumhorn. This building, inspired by the oriental styles, is an attractive architectonic object, with its typical eclectic, sacral look imitating both Byzantine and Oriental architectures.
The Synagogue has a central square plan, with a polygonal salient on the southern side. Flat glazed bricks combined with plasters, on which you can see paintings inspired by oriental architecture, form facades. Central cupola with polygonal skin and corner cupolas finish it.
Square interior is opened into a cupola positioned on four pillars, which also support storied gallery. It is bordered by carved parapet with false arcade motif. In the middle of the eastern wall there is a tabernacle.
The original owner of the Synagogue was the Jewish Religious Community, since 1982 the District People's Committee in Nitra. According to the legislative, in 1991 it became the property of The Town of Nitra.
The reconstruction of the synagogue was started in 1983. By 1990 the reconstruction of the roof had been finished‑copper roof, tin works and facade reparation. Second part of the reconstruction was realized after 1996. Due to the support from the Department of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Jewish Community of Zotermeer and above all, due to the budget of the Town of Nitra, reconstruction of interior began eliminating of emergency conditions of the gallery, ceiling fortification, building of sanitary facilities, electrical installation, etc. This reconstruction cost 23.5 mil Sk...

BOOK REVIEWS

BRATISLAVA TESTIMONY OF HISTORIC POSTCARDS  
BRATISLAVA SVEDECTVO HISTORICKÝCH POHĽADNÍC
This is a fantastic hard cover large format book 10 x 13 3/8 inches containing 574 historical postcards and photographs with many views of the city from the days gone by. It goes back to 1839 and the beginning of photography in Bratislava. It shows the first known picture of Bratislava by J. Deutsch from 1840-41.
The book is written in Slovak, German, and Hungarian languages. At the end of the book the complete text is in English.

It starts with a chapter: From the History of Picture Postcards. Followed by: Views of the City: Franciscan Square, Main Square,Clarisine Lane, Lawrence Lane, St. Michalel’s Lane, Lords Lane, Primate Square, Fishermen’s Gate, Ventura Street, American Square, Danube Lane, Gorki Street, Deep Road, Hodža Square, Hurban Square, Hviezdoslav Square, Jacob’s Square, Field Hospital Street, Factory Street, Jesenský Street, Kollár Square, Goats Lane, Cross Lane, Ľ. Štúr Square, Commerce Lane, The Palisades, Virgin Lane, Radlinský Street, Fish Square, Freedom Square, Square of the Slovak National Uprising, Dry Toll, Šarárik Square Rampart Streer, Hospital Lane, Štefánik Street, Štefanovič Lane, Windy Lane, High Street, Zoch Lane, Castle Street, Jewish Lane, District Square, Capucin Lane, The Daube Embankment, The Castle Surroundings, The Castle, Transpor, Church Buildings, The Fire Brigade, Culture and Education, Aerial Views, Bridges, Parks, Greenery, Foresters‘ Lodges, Catering, Recreation, Sport, Industry, Factories, Wine Growing and Wine Bars, The Military, Health Service and Welfare, Floods, The Fire in 1913, Exhibitions and Fairs, The Visit of Francis Joseph I in 1908, The Visit of Emperor Charles in 1918, The Incorporation of Bratislava into Czechoslovakia, The Last Farewell to Milan Rastislav Štefánik, The Bomb Attack on  March 13, 1939, The Bombing Raid on June 16, 1944.

I lived in Bratislava for the first 19 years of my life from 1950 until 1969 and I still remember many scenes of Bratislava captured on these postcards. It has brought back many memories and I would certainly recommend it and especially to people that used to live in Bratislava.

The book is available now.

COST US$119.95
plus US$10.95 shipping and handling
TOTAL US$130.90
Please mail personal check to:
Vladimir Linder
3804 Yale Street
Burnaby  BC   V5C 1P6  CANADA

RESTAURANT AND HOTEL GUIDE 2005
(Ratings, rankings, and commentaries)
Publisher: Trend Holding, s. r. o. Bratislava, 2004 ISBN 80-968853-2-4

Very popular TREND restaurant guide was published for several years in a row.
This edition was extended by hotels and the very handy format of this book increased to 476 pages.
It is very important to mention, that for the first time the entire book is in two languages, in the Slovak and English languages, which was not the case in the past editions.
After introduction, symbols and ratings are explained. The next section describes what was evaluated at restaurants and hotels.
The part entitled selection of Slovak restaurants is followed by Slovak hotels and guesthouses.
The second, equally important part presents trend top restaurants in Slovakia, as well as restaurants sorted according to their location in individual Slovak regions.
A completely new section presents top chefs, sommeliers, and delicacies.
The next part presents trend top hotels and guesthouses in Slovakia.
A very useful part includes restaurants listed by cuisine.
Visitors of Slovakia should also appreciate few words from traditional Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian cuisine, included in the final part of this book.
Restaurant and hotel guide is strongly recommended when are you planning to visit Slovakia and will save lot of your time looking for phone numbers or email addresses.

Reviewed by: Miroslava Dulova
www.etrend.sk

For FREE sample issue of The Slovak Heritage Live Newsletter
please send in or email your postal address to:

Vladimir Linder
3804 Yale Street
Burnaby, BC,
Canada, V5C 1P6
Phone/Fax: 1-604-291-8065

This limited time offer is good only in North America

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vlinder49@shaw.ca

Copyright © Vladimir Linder 2005 
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir Linder. All rights reserved.