Stropkov Franciscan Monastery was founded in 1616. In 1673, after previous negotiations, the Hungarian provincial approved the construction of a new monastery and its construction began together with the monastery church of the Holy Trinity. It burnt down on 23 April 1721. It was repaired and rebuilt thanks to the Polish nobleman Miciński, who provided funds and materials.
According to the 1869 census, twelve people lived in the monastery at 301 Kláštorná Street. In the period when the Roman Catholic parish of Stropkov lacked a clergyman, his duties were also taken over in the parish church by the fathers Franciscans. The Franciscans also participated in the public and social life of the town, especially in the education of school children. At certain times they were entrusted with the education of the town's church school, which was located in the monastery building.
The fire of 1876 was a disaster for the whole town. The monastery and the Franciscan church were also badly damaged. Therefore, in that year and the following year, a collection was announced among the faithful throughout Hungary for the extensive repair of the church and monastery in Stropkov. It was only thanks to them that the monastery and church were rebuilt.
In mid-October 1921 they moved into an abandoned monastery Redemptorists. This is how it was registered as the first Redemptorist monastery in Slovakia of the Latin rite. Later, when Dominik Metod Trčka (a Greek Catholic) was appointed rector of the monastery, the influence of the Eastern Rite became stronger and more Greek Catholic friars came to the monastery. They contributed greatly to the spread of the cult of the Mother of Perpetual Help and introduced an "indulgence" in her honour in Stropkov. The activity of the Roman Catholic Redemptorists revived again in 1931, when the Greek Catholic Redemptorists left Stropkov for Michalovce, where they built a monastery and a church.
Text and cover photo source: www.rkfustropkov.sk
