John Sarkander

Infobox Saint
name=Saint John Sarkander
birth_date=birth date|1576|12|20|mf=y
death_date=death date|1620|3|17|mf=y
feast_day=March 17
venerated_in=

---

imagesize=150px
caption=Statue of John Sarkander at Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc
birth_place= Skoczów, Poland
death_place= Olomouc
titles=Saint and martyr
beatified_date=May 6 1860
beatified_place=Rome, Italy
beatified_by=Pope Pius IX
canonized_date=May 21 1995
canonized_place=Olomouc
canonized_by=Pope John Paul II
attributes=
patronage=
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
issues=
prayer=
prayer_attrib=

Saint John Sarkander (Czech and Polish: "Jan Sarkander") (1576 – 1620) was a Polish and Moravian priest.

He was consecrated in 1609, and worked in Holešov from 1616. He was accused of betrayal and tortured in Olomouc prison, partially due to his refusal to divulge what was said in confession. [CathEncy|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Bl._John_Sarkander|title=Bl. John Sarkander] Nowadays St. Jan Sarkander chapel stands on its place. The original torturing rack and Sarkander's gravestone are preserved here. Sarkander was canonized by Pope John Paul II during his visit in Olomouc in 1995.

Frescos in Chapel of Saint John Sarkander in Olomouc:

References