DEUTSCHE VERSION

During the 20th century, in a lot of countries around the world the church was hindered from free pastoral care during various periods, for various reasons and in various ways. This implicated in several countries, often for a long lasting time, that the Holy See was unable to appoint bishops regularly. Therefore the church was forced to appoint and consecrate bishops in a clandestine way maintaining the ability of taking care of the flock and of ordinating new priests.

A number of clandestine bishops were appointed by the Holy See or were consecrated by bishops with explicite consecrating order of the Holy See, while other bishops, driven by those time’s state of emergency, consecrated suitable considered priests bishop without having consulted Rome. In the meantime, some of these prelates were acknowledged officially or de facto. But even after several years having passed since restitution of religious freedom in most of those areas affected not all names are known yet, while other’s canonical consecration is doubtfull.

For the reasons mentioned above, the following survey can not be complete or free of errors; it seems necessary to emphasize this list is not authorized by the Holy See in any way. Bishops in bold letters were either consecrated with papal order or were acknowledged as regular successor of the apostles afterwards, while papal approbation of the other names is still missing or not verified. Episcopal dignity is doubtfull in the cases of the below mentioned Ukrainians Chorniak, Vynnychuk and Hirniak, the Russian Novikov as well as the Czech Prochatzka, while in elder sources as clandestine bishops mentioned Czechs Przemysl Coufal, O. P., deceased on February 23rd or 24th, 1981, Mons. Ján Krajnák, born on 10.07.1924 and deceased on 25.02.2005, the Slovak Fr. Vojtech Bosanský, S. V. D., born in 1914 and deceased on 22.04.2001, as well as the Greek Catholic Romanian Aureliu Lelutiu (1914 - 1980) obviously were not consecrated. Whether a clandestine bishop of the former CSSR was of Latin or Byzantine rite can not be verified in each case, for single bishops changed rite.

For plausible reasons no clandestine bishops of the People’s Republic of China are enlisted at the moment.

Most dates are sourcing from the Holy See’s publications, especially from different editions of the Annuario Pontificio, while other details were lent from the rare literature available on this topic or from single homepages believed serious. Special thanks should be paid to Hofrat Dr. Manfred Kierein, Vienna, whose decades lasting researching work and personal contacts with several clandestine bishops testified historical data and rescued some bishop’s names, who helped the church to survive in an extremly difficult period, from being forgotten. Also a thank you to Mr Andreas Brender, M. A., Kirchzarten, Mr Charles N. Bransom, jr., Mango, Fl., and Dr. Remus Bircea Birtz, Cluj, who added worthfull corrections and checked informations. Rev. Fr. Manuil Pyshkovych, M. S. U., from Univ monastery in Peremyshliany rayon, Ukraine, added several before unknown details regarding different hierarchs of Ukraine as well as Metropolitan Ján Babjak, Prešov, did regarding his country. They as well deserve sincere thanks.

Some additional details regarding the hierarchy of the particular local churches and the clandestine bishop's consecrations during the dark period can be found at the link at the respective country.

21.01.52 Titular Bishop of Mideo, Ap. Administrator of Shkodrë

20.04.52 Consecration; 1952 Publication

20.04.52 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Apollonide; Capitular Vicar of Durrës; 1953 Publication

17.12.56 Titular Bishop of Amizone; Capitular Vicar of Pult

25.04.57 Consecration; 1957 Publication

00.00.59 Ap. Administrator of Pult

18.04.58 Titular Bishop of Cisamo; Ap. Administrator of Durrës and of Lezhë

25.03.59 Consecration; 1960 Publication

00.00.91 former Ap. Administrator of Durrës and of Lezhë

10.10.59 Titular Bishop of Giufi

08.11.59 Consecration

22.07.75 Publication; Ap. Vicar of Sofia e Plovdiv

14.12.78 Bishop of Sofia e Plovdiv

20.04.58 Titular Bishop of Batne

04.12.60 Consecration

00.00.62 Publication; Vicar General of Sofia e Plovdiv

00.00.65 Ap. Administrator of Sofia e Plovdiv

[...]

28.10.67 Consecration; not published

Josef BLAHNÍK * 1918 + 1989

28.09.70 Consecration; not published

Karel CHYTIL * 15.09.1920 + 15.09.2002

18.12.87 Consecration; not published

Felix María DAVÍDEK * 12.01.1921 + 16.08.1988

29.10.67 Consecration; not published

Miklos Waclaw DOCEKAL * 1923? + 02.1986

00.00.5? Consecration?; not published

Josef DVORÁK

00.08.68 Consecration; not published

Pavel HÁJEK

29.05.82 Consecration; not published

Josef HINTERHÖLZL * 1915

04.12.84 Consecration; not published

09.02.50 Titular Bishop of Cedie

26.03.50 Consecration; Publication

Josef JINDRA

00.00.73 Consecration; not published

Dobroslav M. KABELKA, O. Praem.

00.08.68 Consecration; not published

Siard Ivan KLEMENT, O. Praem.

15.03.73 Consecration; not published

Jan KONZAL * 05.05.1935

29.05.82 Consecration; not published

Stanislav KRÁTKÝ * 11.11.1922

27.08.68 Consecration; not published

Jirí KRPÁLEK * 06.09.1931

02.03.73 Consecration; not published

29.08.49 Titular Bishop of Serigene, Auxiliary Bishop of Praha

17.09.49 Consecration; Publication

05.06.92 retired Auxiliary Bishop of Praha

30.03.50 Titular Bishop of Chersoneso di Creta, Ap. Administrator of Hradec Kr.

30.04.50 Consecration

00.00.57 Publication

21.12.89 Bishop of Hradec Králové

06.06.98 Bishop Emeritus of Hradec Králové

24.09.98 Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Hradec Králové

Jindrich PEŠEK, S. D. B. * 22.04.1908 + 21.11.1980

Václav RAZIK +

00.12.78 Consecration; not published

12.10.49 Titular Bishop of Buto; Auxiliary Bishop of Olomouc

13.10.49 Consecration; Publication

00.00.65 Ap. Administrator of Praha

24.05.76 Cardinal in pectore

27.06.77 Publication as Cardinal

30.12.77 Archbishop of Praha

27.03.91 Archbishop Emeritus of Praha

Fridolín ZAHRADNÍK * 16.09.1935

24.10.70 Consecration; not published

Gyula PARÁDI * 1931

00.00.70 Consecration?; not published

József RÉDEI * 1921 + 12.11.2003

00.00.70 Consecration?; not published

László RÓZSAVÖLGYI * 15.03.1919 + 02.08.1987

05.11.60 Consecration, Titular Bishop of Listra; not published

19.07.46 Titular Bishop of Gerara; Auxiliary Bishop of Riga

25.07.47 Consecration

00.00.57 Publication

19.07.46 Titular Bishop of Stadia; Auxiliary Bishop of Riga

25.07.47 Consecration

00.00.55 Publication

00.00.56 Ap. Administrator of Liepaja and Auxiliary Bishop of Riga

00.00.59 Ap. Administrator of Liepaja and of Riga

Lithuania

11.09.55 Consecration; 1955 Publication

26.04.51 Titular Bishop of Tabula; Pastoral Representative Wroclaw (in Gorzów)

21.09.54 Consecration

01.12.56 Titular Bishop of Tentiri; Publication

26.04.51 Titular Bishop of Sofene, Pastoral Representative Wroclaw

10.10.54 Consecration

01.12.56 Titular Bishop of Vaga; Publication

19.03.62 Titular Archbishop of Eucaita

00.00.67 Ap. Administrator of Wroclaw, central part

28.06.72 Archbishop of Wroclaw

05.03.73 Cardinal

26.04.51 Titular Bishop of Adriane

21.09.54 Consecration

01.12.56 Titular Bishop of Tugga, Coadjutor "sedi datus" of Gdansk; Publication

07.03.64 Bishop of Gdansk

21.11.49 Titular Bishop of Cantano, Auxiliary Bishop of Cluj-Gherla

25.12.49 Consecration

00.12.89 Publication

14.03.90 Titular Archbishop of Cantano

25.04.49 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Regiana, Auxiliary Bishop of Fagaras si Alba Iulia; not published

Simion CRISAN * 1915 + 1969

00.00.00 Consecration (Blaj); not published

12.01.83 Consecration; not published

06.03.49 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Paleopoli, Auxiliary Bishop of Maramures; not published

28.07.49 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Nebbi, Auxiliary Bishop of Oradea Mare; not published

10.07.84 Consecration; not published

21.11.48 Titular Bishop of Trapezopoli [Auxiliary Bishop of Lugoj]

30.11.48 Consecration

00.12.89 Publication

14.03.90 Bishop of Lugoj

20.11.95 Bishop Emeritus of Lugoj

29.11.96 Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Lugoj

Emil RITI * 12.11.1926 + 21.02.2006

18.04.85 Consecration; not published

Gavrila STAN * 05.04.1903 + after 1970

03.12.49 Consecration (Oradea?); not published

04.07.50 Titular Bishop of Cesaropoli

19.11.50 Consecration

00.12.89 Publication

14.03.90 Archbishop of Fagaras si Alba Iulia

28.06.91 Cardinal

20.07.94 Archbishop Emeritus of Fagaras si Alba Iulia

14.02.49 Consecration; Auxiliary Bishop of Satu Mare si Oradea Mare; not published

12.12.48 Titular Bishop of Ressiana [Ap. Administrator of Timisoara]

12.12.48 Consecration

14.03.90 Publication; Titular Archbishop of Ressiana

16.11.48 Titular Bishop of Giuliopoli

08.12.48 Consecration

16.07.81 Publication

02.02.49 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Alba Iulia]; not published

00.00.51 Consecration [Titular Bishop of Azoto, Auxiliary Bishop of Alba Iulia]; not published

30.06.50 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Ceramussa, Ap. Administrator of Bucuresti; not published

Vikentiy CHEKALIN * 1952

00.00.88 Konsekration als russisch-orthodoxer Dissidentenbischof von Yasnaya Polyana

31.03.90 Nachkonsekration als Bischof von Solnechnogorsk, Ukrainisch-Autokephale Kirche

00.00.90 Konsekration sub conditione als ukrainisch-katholischer Bischof für Russland; ohne Mandat

Viktor NOVIKOV (Pseudonym MAKOVSKI), S. I. * 1905 + 14.05.1979

00.00.40 Exarch for Russian Catholics in Sibiria

00.00.43 Consecration?; not published

Varfolomey REMOV * 03.10.1888 + 26.06.1935

28.07.21 Consecration as Russian Orthodox Titular Bishop of Sergievo and Auxiliary Bishop of Moscow

00.11.32 secret Conversion

03.07.33 cath. Titular Bishop of Sergievo and Aux. Bp. of Adm. ofr Moscow of Byzantinians; not published

09.07.34 Russian Orthodox Titular Archbishop of Sergievo

15.08.34 Titular Bishop of Pirgo

30.04.35 Consecration; Ap. Administrator of Leningrad

00.00.3? Publication

11.02.26 Titular Bishop of Ilio [Ap. Visitator in the Soviet Union]

29.05.26 Consecration

00.00.26 Publication

11.07.37 removal from office

10.05.26 Titular Bishop of Limira; Ap. Administrator of Odessa

10.05.26 Consecration

00.00.29 Publication

13.08.26 Titular Bishop of Dionisiana, Ap. Administrator of Leningrad

13.08.26 Consecration

00.00.28 Publication

08.12.28 Titular Bishop of Matrega and Auxiliary Bishop of Leningrad

09.02.29 Consecration

00.00.3? Publication

09.01.43 Bishop of Kaisiadorys (Lithuania)

09.02.62 Archbishop-Bishop of Kaisiadorys

11.03.26 Titular Bishop of Citro, Ap. Administrator in Moscow

21.04.26 Consecration

00.00.2? Publication

00.00.33 additional Ap. Administrator in Leningrad

05.05.26 Titular Bishop of Cillio; Ap. Administrator of Minsk and of Mohilew

10.05.26 Consecration

00.00.28 Publication

13.06.52 additional Ap. Visitator for Belorussians abroad

14.11.58 former Ap. Visitator for Russians abroad

02.07.60 former Ap. Visitator for Belorussians abroad

03.12.67 Consecration

18.01.93 Protosyncellos for Byzantinians in Czechia

24.04.04 Publication; Titular Bishop of Abritto, Protosyncellos for Byzantians in Czechia

15.05.04 Consecration sub conditione

07.10.06 former Auxiliary Bishop for Byzantinians in Czechia

Sergej KOVC * 29.08.1911 + 09.11.2000

00.00.7? Consecration; not published

Nikodém Mikulaš KRETT, O. S. B. M. * 03.10.1912 + 29.04.1983

00.00.75 Consecration; not published

24.03.68 Consecration

18.01.96 Publication; Titular Bishop of Acalisso, Ap. Exarch for Byzantinians in Czechia

30.03.96 Consecration sub conditione

24.04.03 Ap. Exarch Emeritus for Byzantinians in Czechia

Myron PODHÁJECKÝ * 16.06.1911 + 03.09.1995

00.00.50 Consecration; not sure

Marián Jan POTAŠ, O. S. B. M. * 02.03.1918 + 24.02.2006

00.08.72 Consecration; not published

Latins

05.11.49 Consecration; Publication

18.05.61 Consecration

12.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Carcabia and Auxiliary Bishop of Banská Bystrica

30.07.97 retired Auxiliary Bishop of Banská Bystrica

Ondrej FOGAŠ * 09.12.1945

00.00.81 Consecration; not published

Oskar FORMÁNEK, S. I. * 07.09.1915 + 21.07.1991

00.08.72 Consecration; not published

02.01.51 Consecration

13.05.64 Publication; Titular Bishop of Rusado

Martin HRBCA * 11.09.1924 + 29.08.2002

09.09.55 Consecration

16.03.85 Publication; Titular Bishop of Semta

24.08.51 Consecration

06.02.90 Publication; Bishop of Nitra

28.06.91 Cardinal

09.06.05 Bishop Emeritus of Nitra

Anton NOVOBILSKÝ * 09.02.1936

00.00.81 Consecration?; not published

Dušan Spiridion ŠPINER * 07.02.1950

06.10.79 Consecration; not published

Bartolomej URBANEC * 17.08.1937

14.06.75 Consecration; not published

Grigorij BALAHURAK, O. S. B. M. * 05.07.1909 + 02.10.1965

00.04.45 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv]; not published

15.08.89 Consecration

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Nove and Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv

21.07.00 Bishop of Buchach

10.09.14 Consecration

24.02.21 Publication; Titular Bishop of Lutsk

20.09.24 Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

16.01.31 Titular Bishop of Lebedo and Ap. Visitator for Byzantine rite in Volhynia

02.02.31 Consecration; Publication

17.09.39 Archepiscopal Exarch of Volhynia of the Ukrainians and Locum tenens of Belarus

22.11.41 Publication as Exarch

27.06.01 Beatification

00.00.44 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve]; not published

00.00.83 Bishop of Mukacheve

02.04.77 Consecration [Castel Gandolfo, designated as Bishop of Przemysl, Sanok e Sambor]

16.06.91 resigned as Bishop of Przemysl, Sanok e Sambor

22.02.96 Publication; Titular Bishop of Patara, Procurator in Rome

14.01.03 former Procurator

Ivan CHORNIAK * 17.12.1899 + 24.01.1980

00.00.6? Consecration?; not published

02.04.77 Consecration [Castel Gandolfo; Director of Ukr. Salesians in Rome]; not published

Nykanor Mykola DEJNEHA, M. S. U. * 08.12.1907 + 08.11.1982

00.02.72 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]; not published

30.11.68 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv/Ivano-Frankivsk]

02.12.73 Bishop of Stanislaviv/Ivano-Frankivsk

16.01.91 Publication; Bishop of Stanislaviv/Ivano-Frankivsk

07.11.97 Bishop Emeritus of Ivano-Frankivsk

Josafat Josyf FEDORYK, O. S. B. M. * 20.12.1897 + 28.12.1979

00.00.59 Administrator for Central Asia

00.00.64 Consecration [Archepiscopal Exarch of Central Asia in Frunse]; not published

00.00.71 return to Lviv

Josyf HIRNIAK * 21.06.1902 + 15.08.1979

00.00.6? Consecration?; not published

15.03.83 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve]

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Sozopoli di Emimonto, Aux. Bp. Mukacheve

02.04.77 Consecration [Castel Gandolfo]

22.02.96 Publication; Titular Bishop of Nisa di Licia, Archepiscopal Exarch of Kyiv-Vyshhorod

14.10.96 Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

23.12.00 Ap. Administrator of Lviv

25.01.01 Major Archbishop of Lviv

21.02.01 Cardinal

06.12.04 Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyc (29.08.2005 confirmed)

Petro KOZAK, C. SS. R. * 10.04.1911 + 11.12.1984

00.00.83 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]; not published

23.02.85 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Abritto, Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

24.11.29 Titular Bishop of Adada; Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv

26.01.30 Consecration; Publication

24.12.47 Bishop of Stanislaviv

00.06.01 Beatification

00.04.45 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv]

27.06.01 Beatification; Publication

10.09.87 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve]

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Scopelo di Emimonto, Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve

12.11.02 Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Mukacheve

19.12.44 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve]; not published

Konstantin SABOV * 04.01.1926 + 18.12.1982

16.07.77 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve]; not published

11.10.86 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Bucello, Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

20.04.93 Bishop of Ternopil

21.07.00 Bishop of Ternopil-Zboriv

24.08.78 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Mukacheve]

00.00.83 Bishop of Mukacheve

16.01.91 Publication; Bishop of Mukacheve

12.11.02 Bishop Emeritus of Mukacheve

00.04.45 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv; 1949 Ap. Administrator of Stanislaviv]

27.11.57 Bishop of Stanislaviv

27.06.01 Beatification; Publication

25.11.39 Titular Archbishop of Serre and Coadjutor of Lviv

22.12.39 Consecration

13.01.42 Publication

01.11.44 Archbishop of Lviv

23.12.63 Major Archbishop of Lviv

22.02.65 Cardinal

19.07.64 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]

00.00.72 Archbishop and Locum tenens of Lviv

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Archbishop of Marcianopoli, Locum tenens of Lviv

00.00.91 Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

00.00.96 retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

Jakym Jaroslav TYMCUK, O. S. B. M. * 24.08.1919 + 20.12.1988

00.00.77 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk]; not published

Stefan VAPROVYCH * 01.05.1899 + 02.03.1964

00.04.45 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Stanislaviv]; not published

01.05.74 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk]

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Plotinopoli, Auxiliary Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk

20.04.93 Bishop of Kolomyia-Chernivtsi

00.00.59 Titular Bishop of Lutsk and Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

04.02.63 Consecration [Locum tenens of Lviv]

00.00.66 Consecration sub conditione

27.06.01 Beatification; Publication

30.09.86 Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]

16.01.91 Publication; Titular Bishop of Deulto, Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv

20.07.93 Ap. Administrator of Sambir-Drohobych

30.03.94 Bishop of Sambir-Drohobych

Roman VYNNYCHUK * 1910 + 13.01.1983

00.00.6? Consecration [Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv]; not published

Dmytro YAREMKO * 06.10.1879 + 03.10.1916

10.09.14 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Ostroh; not published

Jan CIENSKI * 07.01.1905 + 26.12.1992

22.01.62 Papal Consecration Order

30.06.67 Consecration [Latins in Ukraine]; not published

07.05.75 Consekration; Auxiliary Bishop of Bac Ninh; not published

13.02.64 Consecration; Titular Bishop of Settimunicia, Coadjutor of Phát Diêm; not published

For additional details, please have a look at:

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