John Sarkander

Who was John Sarkander?

Saint John Sarkander was a Polish and Moravian priest.

Jan Sarkander was born into a Silesian family, father Gregory Matthias Sarkander and mother Helena née Górecka of Kornicz, at Skoczów in Duchy of Teschen.

He studied since 1597 at the University of Olomouc and then since 1600 at the Charles University in Prague, where he became doctor of philosophy. Later, he studied theology at University of Graz. He was ordained in 1609 and worked in Holešov from 1616.

In 1620, during the ongoing Bohemian Revolt, Sarkander was by Protestant Moravian Estates accused of betrayal and tortured in Olomouc prison, partially due to his refusal to divulge what was said in confession. Today the St. Jan Sarkander chapel stands on the place of his torture. The original torturing rack and Sarkander's gravestone are preserved here. Sarkander was canonized by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Olomouc in 1995.