Meeting abstract
ANTON BENVIN (Valun, September 14, 1935 – Rome, September 18, 1996)
Marko Medved
Anton Šuljić
Abstract
Abstract
By publishing a wider report from a congress dedicated to Msgr. Dr. Anton Benvin (1935-1996), held on September 18, 2016 in Cres, Riječki teološki časopis wishes to contribute to the knowledge of this prominent priest and scientist from our Metropolis of Rijeka. Dr. Benvin worked at the High Theological School in Rijeka (today’s Theology in Rijeka), the institution that publishes this Journal, as well as in the Seminary of Rijeka from 1969 to 1992.
Dr. Anton Benvin was born on September 14, 1935 in Valun on the island of Cres. He began his education in his hometown and soon chose a priestly vocation. In 1945, at the age of ten he entered the minor seminary in Veli Lošinj, and later in Zadar. His primary schooling was in Italian, since Cres and Zadar at that time belonged to Italy. After the changes in governmental authorities he continued his education in Croatian, in the well-known Gymnasium in Pazin.
After his graduation, he studied theology at the High Theological School in Rijeka. After military service, he continued his studies in theology in Pazin and Zagreb, because the State authorities had closed the Seminary in Rijeka for a period of ten years. He was ordained priest of the Diocese of Krk on September 20, 1958 in his parish church of Cres. As a young priest he immediately began teaching Latin in the Seminary at Pazin. From 1965 to 1969 he was in Rome, in the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome, pursuing advanced studies in Liturgy and Patrology. At the Pontifical Athenaeum of St.
Anselm, with the Benedictines, Benvin defended his doctoral dissertation titled “Jesus’ Baptism in Christology and Soteriology of St. Hilarius from Poitiers” on June 25, 1969. In the same year he returned to Rijeka, where until 1992 he lectured in Biblical Exegesis, Liturgy, Patrology, Ecumenism, Eastern Theology and Ecclesiology at the High Theological School in Rijeka. At the same time, he worked in the Seminary as Vice-Rector (1969-1973) and Spiritual in 1984; the Marian years 1976 and 1988; and the Seven Hundred Years Anniversary of Trsat Sanctuary in 1991. He regularly and actively participated as director and lecturer at international Marian Congresses organized by the Pontifical Academy of Mary in Rome.
After democratic changes in Croatia, when Radio Rijeka started broadcasting Katolički vidici, Dr. Benvin explained the Sunday biblical readings and in this way created a whole new atmosphere and new relations towards this communication medium. The desire to reap the fruits of the Second Vatican Council in our Church and among our nation, and the striving for liturgical and ecclesiastical renewal, has marked much of his fruitful teaching and his priestly life. In that sense, he was also a member of the Theological Society Kršćanska sadašnjost while also involved in numerous other similar activities, especially ecumenical activities promoted by our theological schools and the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb. He regularly participated in ecumenical meetings organized by the Faculties of Theology in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade. His
ecumenical openness was especially appreciated by Orthodox Christians, shown by the expressions of condolence at his funeral from our Orthodox Christian brothers.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
191030
URI
Publication date:
1.8.2017.
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