Metropolitan Nikolaj, primate of the Czech and Slovak Lands reposed in the Lord on 30th January 2006.

The Orthodox Church of the Czech and Slovak Lands traces its roots to the missionary efforts of the Byzantine brothers, Saints Cyril and Methodius, in the tenth century. It was granted autocephalous status in the 20th century, only to suffer tremendously under the Nazi occupation, and again after the fall of communism and the breakup of Czechoslovakia into two separate nations, in the 1990s.

The Church maintains two dioceses in the Czech Eparchy and an additional two dioceses in the Slovakian Eparchy. With the division of Czechoslovakia, the Greek Catholic Church laid claims to many Orthodox churches, monasteries and theological schools, especially in eastern Slovakia, forcing the Orthodox faithful to literally rebuild their Church brick by brick.

Following the repose of His Beatitude Metropolitan Dorotheus of Prague and All Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Nikolaj of Presov was elected Primate of the Church. Metropolitan Nikolaj of Presov was enthroned Metropolitan of the Czech and Slovak Lands on 4th June 2000. On his accession, the Church’s primatial see was moved to Presov in eastern Slovakia, where the majority of the faithful are centered. 

Under Metropolitan Nikolaj's guidance, the Church reached out to countless Orthodox immigrants from the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, Romania and elsewhere, especially in the Czech Eparchy, and has experienced a substantial number of conversions.

In September 2004 Metropolitan Nikolaj (left) welcomed to the Czech and Slovak lands, Metropolitan Herman of the Orthodox Church of America (right).

While Metropolitan Nikolaj has been in ill health for quite some while, his loss to the Church on earth is regretted, and condolences have come forth from most Orthodox church leaders. 

Metropolitan Nikolaj's funeral will be celebrated on Saturday, February 4, at Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Presov, Slovakia. 

source: various