This postage stamp is issued to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Armed Corps of the Slovak Republic. Although twenty years is not such a long period of time for an institution, in this case, it is special and unique. Just like a young man who has reached adulthood – a significant milestone in his life, the Ordinariate has also come of age and has developed the potential required to carry out its mission.
The Slovak Republic concluded a treaty with the Holy See on 24th November 2000 to protect the rights of its citizens, including the basic right to freedom of religion. When they signed this document Slovakia also agreed that they would implement four further treaties. One of these treaties is related to the pastoral care of Catholic believers in the Armed Forces and Armed Corps of the Slovak Republic. Made on 21st August 2002, it laid the foundations for the establishment of a personal diocese, i.e., an ordinariate under Canon Law, in Slovakia which would be responsible for this task. The Ordinariate was established by Pope John Paul II, through his papal bull of Spiritual Progress, Spiritalem progressionem, on 20th January 2003. Mons. František Rábek, a former auxiliary bishop of the Nitra Diocese, was appointed as its first bishop – Ordinary. The Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Armed Corps of the Slovak Republic came into existence, pursuant to Canon Law, on 1st March 2003 through the ceremonial promulgation of the above-mentioned papal documents.
In 2009, Bratislava Archbishop Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský, designated a new church, situated on Pekná cesta in Bratislava, as the cathedral church of the Ordinariate. The patron of the cathedral and Ordinariate is Saint Sebastian, a soldier and martyr from the Early Christian period.
The motif of the commemorative stamp, created by Mgr. art. Peter Nosáľ, is the cathedral bells, however they are not a classical set of bells but a carillon. The sound of the bells can be heard on various occasions in the life of the community of believers. Their sound, particularly cheerful on this occasion, will accompany the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Ordinariate as a community of Catholic believers from the Armed Forces and Armed Corps of the Slovak Republic.
František Rábek
