Background
January Sarkander was born into a Silesian (Bohemian-Polish) family. His father was Gregory Matthias Sarkander and his mother Helena née Górecka of Kornicz (Kornitz). January was born at Skoczów in the Duchy of Teschen (Silesia).
January Sarkander was born into a Silesian (Bohemian-Polish) family. His father was Gregory Matthias Sarkander and his mother Helena née Górecka of Kornicz (Kornitz). January was born at Skoczów in the Duchy of Teschen (Silesia).
He studied at the University of Olomouc from 1597, and then from 1600 at the Charles University in Prague, where he graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy.
Later, he studied theology at the University of Graz. He was ordained in 1609 and worked in Holešov from 1616. Today the Saint January Sarkander chapel stands on the place of his torture, at the top of Michael"s Hill.
The original torturing rack and Sarkander"s gravestone are preserved here.
Sarkander was canonized by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Olomouc in 1995.