On Thursday, November 4th, 2021, Czechs and Americans alike gathered to remember the legacy of J. A. Comenius. The ceremony took place on campus at the local Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA right in front of the Comenius statue made by Czech sculptor Vincenc Makovský.
At the suggestion of the Director of the Czech Center New York, Miroslav Konvalina, this historical ceremony took place at the only monument to J. A. Comenius in North America and marked the 30th anniversary of the rededication of the statue by President Václav Havel, who himself visited Bethlehem at the end of October 1991 on his second trip to America for an official visit to the United States.
Among those in attendance were senior university officials, faculty members, student body representatives, and members of the general public. Also accepting an invitation to the ceremony were the Czech Consul General in New York, Arnošt Kareš; the Director of the Czech Center New York, Miroslav Konvalina; and other dignified guests, including two Czech exchange students from Olomouc who are currently studying at Moravian University.
All speakers recalled how Václav Havel, much like President T. G. Masaryk, drew on Comenius's ideas and respected his legacy and significance both in Central Europe and worldwide. In an informal discussion, it was brought up several times how important the relationship is between the Czech Republic and Moravian University, where a number of students have studied and continue to study, with many of them going on to apply themselves in Czech diplomacy, law, healthcare, and other fields.
In his speech by the J. A. Comenius statue in front of the main Moravian University building, Rector Bryon Grigsby notably recalled how the statue had been donated to the town of Bethlehem by Charles University back in 1960 and then summarized the historical significance of the “Teacher of Nations.”
He was followed by the Consul General of the Czech Republic in New York, Arnošt Kareš, who said, “I am very glad to see that the ideas and legacy of John Amos Comenius — a noted Czech thinker, philosopher, writer, humanist, and “Teacher of Nations” — continue to live on here on “Moravian soil” at the Moravian University campus in Bethlehem.
“The Teacher of Nations, J. A. Comenius, was inspiring not only to T. G. Masaryk, who considered him the first pan-European, but a few decades later also to Václav Havel. In his first speech after the Velvet Revolution in 1990, Václav Havel emphasized the values and ideas of J. A. Comenius when he paraphrased his words: My people, your government has returned to you…,” added Consul General Arnošt Kareš during his speech in Bethlehem.
The Director of the Czech Center New York stated that his speech was not just coming from him, but also from those back in the motherland who were unable to fly to the States to attend this special Comenius celebration. The first person whose message he passed on to onlookers at the event was Dr. Markéta Pánková, Director of the National Pedagogical Museum and Library of J. A. Comenius. She was very pleased to note that several important anniversaries concerning the “Teacher of Nations” were being celebrated in parallel in the United States.
Miroslav Konvalina added: “In the words of Václav Havel back in 1991, the Czech nation is finally free and independent, and it takes notice of the support received from the European Community. The statue that stands before our very eyes symbolizes Comenius’ legacy for the future, so that everyone — regardless of gender, nationality, or socioeconomic status — can freely exist, live, and operate in conditions of everlasting peace and mutual friendship.”
Czech and American students compiled a number of Comenius' humanistic quotes for the ceremony that remain relevant still to this day. The ceremony was brought to a close by Czech jazz singer Martina Bárta, who sang a rendition of “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong accompanied by the university jazz ensemble.
Miroslav Konvalina, Director of the Czech Center New York – November 2021
