Janis Mendriks or Janis Antonovich Mendriks ( in the documents of the GULAG ) [1] ( Latvian. Jānis Mendriks ; January 21, 1907 , p. Lokoki (Logocki) of the Kalupa parish , near Aglona, Latvia - August 1, 1953 , Jur-Shor , Vorkuta ) - priest Roman catholic church .
| Janis Mendricks | |
|---|---|
| Latvian. Jānis mendriks | |
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| Date of Birth | |
| Place of Birth | Aglona Russian empire |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
| A country | |
| Occupation | priest of the roman catholic church |
Entering the Congregation of Marians , he began his obedience in Vilani on December 8, 1926, under the leadership of Fr. Benedict Scrind. He made his first vows on December 9, 1927. He graduated from the Catholic gymnasium in Aglona. On January 6, 1933, he made his eternal vows. In the same year he entered the Riga Theological Seminary. On Sunday, April 3, 1938, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Anthony Senovich in St. Jacob's Cathedral in Riga.
After being ordained to the priesthood, he served as vicar in the parish of the Marians in Vilani, going to nearby churches, which were also under the care of the Marians. For some time he served in the parishes of Lamini, Kandava and Sabile in Courland.
In 1942 , while serving in the Ostronsky parish, he refused the Christian burial of a policeman in German service, who was killed by partisans, because he was known to have a concubine, but he did not repent until his death of breaking the seventh commandment - "Do not commit adultery" [2] . After that, he was forced to hide due to the danger that threatened his life until the end of the war.
After the war ended, he again could openly conduct his pastoral work. On February 19, 1948, he became pastor of the parish of Jaunborn and Elern. 2 for "organizing anti-Soviet nationalist gangs and anti-Soviet propaganda." Then he was deported to the Komi Republic and worked at a coal mine in Vorkuta.
On October 25, 1950, he was arrested by the MGB in Jaunborn, and then sent to a prison in Riga. There, on March 24, 1951, he was sentenced to 10 years of forced labor in the camp under Articles 17-58-1a and 58-10 hours 2 [1] . Sent to a camp in Vorkuta , where he mined coal and continued to secretly perform pastoral duties, served, and communed the faithful. During a stay in the labor camp about. Mendricks secretly performed his priestly service among the prisoners: sometimes he celebrated the Holy Mass , confessed and communed. To do this, he carried with him a small box in the form of a cigarette case in which he kept the Holy Gifts.
In 1953 he served time in the camp department No. 10 of mine No. 29 of Vorkuta.
He took part in the Vorkuta uprising .
He participated in a strike in the camp department No. 10 of mine No. 29 on July 28 - August 1, 1953. Father Mendricks believed that he should stay with all prisoners at the time of mortal danger in order to prepare them for death. Therefore, he stood in the forefront of the crowd of political prisoners of the Yur-Shor camp when the soldiers opened fire. Among those who were immediately killed was about. Janis Mendricks. He died while reading the prayer of absolution [2] .
He was buried at the Yur-Shor memorial cemetery in Vorkuta (grave No. A-62).
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The Prosecutor General of Latvia rehabilitated Fr. Janis Mendrix July 5, 1991.
On May 31, 2003, at the Main Seminary “ Mary the Queen of the Apostles ”, in St. Petersburg, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz , Moscow Metropolitan, officially opened the process of beatification of martyrs who died under Soviet rule. Among the candidates for the official recognition of the blessed martyrs of the Soviet regime was also father Janis Mendriks [2] .
Links
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 History of the Stalin Gulag. Riots, riots and strikes of prisoners. T. 6. M.: ROSSPEN. S. 523.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Great Figure (link not available) . Date of treatment October 6, 2017. Archived January 12, 2012.