EAST – WEST SLOVAKIA, THE WORLD AND THE PERSON
15 – 22 November 2015, Prešov / Spišská Kapitula, Slovakia
Festival on Freedom, History, Culture and Society
SCHEDULE
15.11. 10:00 Holy Mass, Opening of Hanusove dni
Cathedral of St Nicolaus, Prešov
Homily on the Church and fight for freedom by prof. Jarab, Rector of the Catholic University
Ružomberok
17.11. 17:00 Informal Discussion on Challenges and Ideals of Generation Y
PUZZLE Club Room, Prešov
(attended by the Mayor of Prešov, Mrs Turčanová)
17.11.19:00 Organ concert dedicated to the victims of totalitarian thinking (Bach, Franck, Reubke)
Organist: Tomáš Mihalik
18.11. 9:00-22:00 Festival of Freedom – in cooperation with Nation’s Memory Institute
Scala Cinema, Prešov
All-day screening of films about the evils of the totalitarian regimes, including a discussion on
smuggling of literature to Czechoslovakia featuring then-active smugglers of literature, and a concert
featuring songs of Karel Kryl
19.11. 14:00 Lecture of Professor Tomsky and an exhibition of topical documents and books related
to the November’89 events
UNIPO Library, University of Prešov
19.11. 19:00 Public recording of Lampa – discussion programme featuring high-profile guest
speakers (A.Tomský, P. Zajac, J.Čarnogurský, J.Šafin), discussion led by Štefan Hríb, famous
conservative presenter
Park of Culture and Leisure, Prešov
20.11. 9:00 ‘Unsung Heroes’ Conference. Students’ conference featuring stories of those who helped
us regain our freedom
20.11. 14:00 Public Gathering at the Monument of the victims of Communism featuring speeches of
former political prisoners and significant public and religious figures (attended by the Mayor of
Prešov)
Main Street, Prešov
20.11. 19:00 Concert of the Trnava-based vocal ensemble Vox Aurumque featuring the music of a
17-century Spiš organist and composer Johann Schimrack.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Spišské Podhradie
20-22.11 Three-day conference ‘East-West: Slovakia, the World and the Person’ – Lectures and
discussions on the political, cultural, philosophical and religious roots of Western Civilization.
Discussion of Prof. Tomský, Prof. Duda and Dr. Mikloško about the future of Europe.
Hanusove dni in a Nutshell
Most recent geopolitical developments,
European crisis, migration crisis as well as
philosophical, historical, political and spiritual
groundwork of Western civilization were among
the most hotly debated topics during this year’s
Hanusove dni (Hanus Days) held in Prešov and
Spišská Kapitula (East Slovakia) on 15-22
November 2015. The main partner of the
festival was Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Slovakia.
The title East – West: Slovakia, the World and
the Person framed as many as nine separate
events, discussions, concerts, films and lectures
held in most prominent culture places across
Prešov. This was followed by a three-day conference held in Spišská Kapitula. The conference was
opened by a concert of the Trnava-based vocal ensemble Vox Aurumque featuring the music of a 17century Spiš organist and composer Johann Schimrack. The event held in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Spišské Podhradie was also attended by Dr. Werner Böhler, Director of Konrad Adenauer
Stiftung Office in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The aggregate number of people attending the festival events reached about 1200 in Prešov, and
approx. 200 in Spišská Kapitula. This was achieved due to massive campaign and cooperation with
local micro-communities, as well as successful partnerships with the City of Prešov and Spišské
Podhradie, as well as with well-established partners such as the ‘Unsung Heroes’ projects, ‘Festival
of Freedom’ (a festival held each year Nation’s Memory Institute) or the well-known discussion
program Lampa presented by Štefan Hríb, famous Slovak conservative journalist, to be broadcasted
on Czech and Slovak Christian television TV Noe.
The key idea of the festival was to
commemorate the 26th anniversary of the fall of
communism in Slovakia and discuss the key
questions of our time – which is the mission of
the Hanus Days project. All events of this year’s
festival had a geopolitical and personalistic
element embedded in individual sub-topics.
General observations on the key challenges to
the ability of the West to retain freedom and
order and insights by high-profile speakers such
as Professor Alexander Tomský (Czech Republic)
or former dissident and former Slovak
parliamanetarian Dr. Frantisek Mikloško were enriched by spiritual dimension through powerful
stories of those that suffered for holding onto the truth up against those in power in the course of
our history – in several lectures presented by an excellent historian Dr. Ľuboslav Hromják.
It is said ‘democracy is discussion’ – we think this year, the festival lived up to the demanding criteria
set by Ladislav Hanus through his life and work, and exceeded any expectations of all involved
parties. This year was a success, but at the same time, a huge obligation for the future editions of
Hanusove dni.
Photo gallery – Hanusove dni 15-22. 2015
Lecture hall full of students at Spišská Kapitula, Hanusove dni,
21.11.
Prof. Tomský lecturing at the Prešov University on the Crisis of
the West
Hanusove dni, 19.11.
Professor Tomský lectures at Spišská Kapitula
Hanusove dni, 21.11.
East – West: Lampa discussion in Prešov (TV Noe public
recording)
Hanusove dni, 19.11.
František Mikloško amidst of a debate on Europe at Spišská
Kapitula, Hanusove dni, 21.11.
Vox Aurumque Concert - 17-century music in Spišské Podhradie
Hanusove dni, 20.11.
Poster – Hanusove dni 15-22. 2015