Benedict of Skalka or Szkalka ( hu, Zoborhegyi Szent Benedek, sk, Svätý Benedikt pustovník) (10th century –d. 1012), born ''Stojislav'' in
Nitra, Hungarian Kingdom (modern day
Slovakia), was a
Benedictine monk, now venerated as a saint. He became a hermit and lived an austere life in a cave along the Vah River. Benedict was strangled to death in 1012 by a gang of robbers looking for treasure. He is venerated in
Slovakia,
Hungary,
Poland and the emigrant diasporas in the
United States.
Life
Benedict became a monk at the
St. Hippolytus Monastery on Mount Zobor near
Nitra,
Slovakia (then
Kingdom of Hungary) in the late 10th or early 11th century. He later became a hermit with his fellow saint and spiritual teacher
Andrew Zorard.
Mackenzie, Georgina Muir and Irby, Adelina Paulina. ''Across the Carpathians'', Macmillan, 1862, p. 54
/ref> They lived an austere life in a cave along the Váh River near Trenčín, in modern Skalka nad Váhom
Skalka nad Váhom ( hu, Vágsziklás ) is a village and municipality in Trenčín District in the Trenčín Region of north-western Slovakia.
History
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1208.
Geography
The municipality ...
, Slovakia - then part of the Kingdom of Hungary.
Andrew died in 1009, but Benedict continued to live in the cave for three years until he was strangled to death in 1012 by a gang of robbers looking for treasure.Bishop of Pécs
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or offic ...
.
He was renowned for his piety and strict asceticism
Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...
.
Feast Day and Veneration
Benedict is venerated especially in Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland, but also in the United States. His feast day is 1 May, but in some calendars he is venerated together with Andrew Zorard on 13 June or 17 July.
See also
* Saint Benedict of Szkalka, patron saint archive
References
External links
Saint Benedict of Szkalka
at Patron Saints Index
Benedikt av Skalka
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedict of Szkalka
11th-century Christian saints
Medieval Hungarian saints
Hungarian Roman Catholic saints
Hungarian Benedictines
1012 deaths
10th-century Hungarian people
11th-century Hungarian people
Hungarian hermits