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Bld Basil was the son of Anna Petrenko and Basil Hopko, poor, landless, Rusyn peasants. His father died when he was just a year old, and when he was four his mother emigrated to the United States to look for work. Educated in Hungary, he graduated with honours in 1923. He studied for the Priesthood at the Eparchial Seminary, Prjashev, Czechoslovakia. He had dreams of joining his mother in the United States, and of pursuing his vocation there, but the cost of recurring health problems left him unable to afford to travel. When he finally decided to serve in his native land, he was suddenly cured, and realised he was been given a sign about his calling. Ordained Priest on 3 February 1929, he became Pastor of the Greek Catholic Parish in Prague where he was noted for a mission to the poor, the unemployed, and to students. He then taught at the Eparchial Seminary in Prjashev. He was awarded the title of Monsignor in 1936. He received his Doctor of Theology degree in 1940, and was named Auxiliary Bishop of Prjashev, Slovakia on 11 May 1947.
He was arrested on 28 April 1950 as part of the Communist government’s suppression of the Greek Catholic Church. He was kept on starvation rations and tortured for weeks. He was eventually given a show trial and sentenced to 15 years for the “subversive activity” of staying loyal to Rome. He was repeatedly transferred from prison to prison, and continually abused. His health, physical and emotional, failed, and in 1964 he was transferred to a home for the aged and kept under guard there. Though he managed to overcome severe depression, and went on to minister to a group of 120 nuns imprisoned at the home, he never recovered his physical health.
On 13 June 1968 his original eparchy was restored, but a group of activists insisted that, since he was a Rusyn, a Slovak bishop be appointed to the see; Basil was removed. Deep divisions occurred throughout the eparchy, not all of which have yet been settled. Bishop Basil died without being able to resume leadership of his flock. His death was a direct result of imprisonment, and he is considered one of the many martyred by Communism.
Born
21 April 1904 at Hrabské, Prešovský kraj, Sáros County, Kingdom of Hungary (present-day eastern Slovakia).
Died
23 July 1976 at Prešov, Prešovský kraj, Czechoslovakia (present-day Slovakia).
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