Anton Vovk was the grandson of France Prešeren's sister, Mina Vovk. He was born in the same house as the poet 100 years later on 19th May. Following two years of primary school education in Breznica, Vovk continued his schooling in Kranj and then in Šentvid near Ljubljana, where he later graduated. He studied theology in Ljubljana, where in 1923 he was ordained as a priest. At first Vovk was chaplain in Metlika, then in Tržič where, at the age of 28, he became the youngest priest in the diocese. In 1940 he became dean of Ljubljana cathedral. After the end of World War II, as an authorised general vicar, Vovk took over the leadership of the Ljubljana diocese on 14th June 1945, which he then led up to his death on 7th June 1963. On 15th September 1946 Pope Pius XII appointed Vovk as assistant bishop of Ljubljana, then on 22nd December 1961, when Pope John XXIII elevated the Ljubljana diocese to an archdiocese, Vovk was appointed as archbishop. Until his death on 6th July 1963, Vovk strived to ensure that the Communist government respected the freedom of religious choice, the constitutional position of the church, and stopped all violence and intimidation against its followers. On 20th January 1952 Vovk was the victim of a brutal attack under the influence of political propaganda. At Bršljin railway station in Novo mesto, he had petrol poured over him and was set alight. Through his work Vovk became a key figure and symbol of the Slovenian church in post-war history.
Five-year-old Anton (on the right next to the Maypole) in front of the pri Ribeč homestead. On the left-hand-side beside the Maypole is Vovk's mother, Marija, nee Debelak.
Following completion of the secondary school leaving examination in 1919. Peasant labour shaped the character of young Anton.
He was ordained as a priest on 29th June 1923, and held a new mass on 1st July 1923 in Breznica. From left to right: canon Ivan Svetina, prelate Tomo Zupan, the newly ordained Anton Vovk, and the writer Fran Saleški Finžgar.
As the priest of Tržič on a house visit, 1935
A coat-of-arms with St. Mark's church in the centre
A portrait of the bishop following the arson attack in Novo mesto, 1952
In spite of his repeated requests, it wasn't until January 1960 that Vovk was granted a passport and thus, as the resident archbishop of Ljubljana, he was authorised to make a visit, as directed, to the Holy See and to personally report to the Pope about the status of his diocese. When Vovk apologised to the Pope for his illness that meant he could not kneel before him, Pope John XXIII kindly replied, “I should kneel before you.”
In Brezje on the 50th anniversary of the consecration of Brezje's Mary Help of Christians, 1957
