During the All Souls' period, sentenced prisoners visited the historical St. Rosalia Cemetery

The All Souls' Day period is a time of quiet, memories, and reflection on the transience of human life. It was in this spirit that on November 5, 2026 six sentenced prisoners housed in the Košice-Šaca prison participated in an excursion to the historical St. Rosalia Cemetery in Košice as part of their leave from the prison.

St. Rosalia Cemetery is one of the most significant historical burial grounds in Košice. Its origin is linked to the tragic events of the plague epidemic in the years 1709 – 1710, which claimed many human lives. It was during this period that the idea of building a chapel dedicated to Saint Rosalia, the patron saint against plague epidemics, was born. The chapel was completed in 1715, and a cemetery gradually formed around it, which became the final resting place for many generations of Košice residents.

Its special historical and artistic value is provided by preserved tombstones, precious family tombs, and architectural elements documenting various historical periods. The cemetery thus represents not only a site of piety but also a significant part of the city's cultural heritage. Due to its historical, architectural, and artistic values, it is declared a national cultural monument.

Part of the excursion was also a visit to the Chapel of St. Rosalia, in which the participants were given an interesting lecture by parish vicar ThLic. Roman Haško, PhD.. In his commentary, he explained the historical circumstances of the cemetery's origin, the connections to the plague epidemic, as well as the history of the chapel itself, its consecration, and spiritual significance. The sentenced prisoners thus had the opportunity to learn more about this exceptional place and its irreplaceable position in the history of Košice.

The visit to the historical cemetery during the All Souls' period offered the participants not only an opportunity to expand their historical and cultural knowledge, but also a space for quiet and personal reflection. The atmosphere of the ancient burial ground, the stories hidden in the stone tombstones, and the history of the chapel reminded them of the value of human life, its transience, and the importance of spiritual values.