“The Trnava Apostolic Administrature was promoted to the level of diocese and Metropolitan See,” – a decision that Slovaks had been waiting for more than 1000 years. In the Papal Bull “Qui Divino” dated December 30, 1977, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Slovakia an independent ecclesiastical province. By the document “Praescriptionum sacrosancti”, he demarcated new dioceses which borders were inconsistent with the official Slovak borders.
On 6th July, 1978, the Slovak ecclesiastical province was solemnly proclaimed in the Church of St. John the Baptist in Trnava, thus the Holy See did in fact confirm the sovereignty of Slovakia before the state was officially established. After 1989, the importance of the province became even greater when new bishops were appointed in all Slovak dioceses.
On the stamp is the saint’s portrait and the first letters of the Glagolitic alphabet.
On the coupon is Romanesque church in Dražovce.

Prof. Viliam Judák