They were taking us to Hejnice, not to Siberia
Josef Kohl joined the Benedictine order in 1949. Just a few months later, on 27 April, 1950, he was taken to an unknown destination along with other friars from Emmaus, where he waited for his priestly ordination. "In Břevnov, about seven other people got on the bus. We wanted to know where they were taking us to, but the answer was: 'we can’t tell you'. The bus set out to the east and so some of us began to think that we were being taken to Siberia. But at Mladá Boleslav we turned north. Thus we estimated that they are taking us to Hejnice. We arrived there about half past four in the morning. They accommodated us to rooms on the first floor. During the morning, more friars started to arrive: friars from České Budějovice, the Benedictines from Rajhrad, the friars of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament from Brno, and the Augustinians from Lnáře. My oldest brother was getting married on the next day, so I asked the chief StB agent if he’d let me go to the wedding in Hronov. In the afternoon he told me: 'Prague will not allow it'."
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Jan Josef Kohl
Jan Josef Kohl was born on February 21, 1928 in Suchý Důl near Police nad Metují in the Náchod District as the fourth out of eight children. His parents had a farm where the children often helped out. After the war, he studied at a trade academy. At that time, he also took part in spiritual training, which was a decisive experience for his later life. After graduation, he asked Anastáz Opasek, abbot of the Břevnov Monastery, to be accepted into the Benedictine order. In September 1949, he witnessed the abbot's arrest. In April 1950, he was interned in the Hejnice Monastery during Action K, aimed at the elimination of male monastic orders. In the following three and a half years, he was sent to the Auxiliary Technical Battalions to work on construction sites and mines. After his return, he had trouble finding employment. He worked mainly as an assistant labourer and metal machinist. In 1968, he began studying in the faculty of theology and in 1973, he was ordained a priest. Due to his affiliation with the order, however, he was not given the state approval necessary for performing the priest's vocation. Thanks to fortunate circumstances, he received the permission two years later and he continued working as a chaplain. In 1990, he returned to the Břevnov Monastery.
