Servant of God Janez Kodrič

Janez Kodrič was a Slovenian priest, martyr, and candidate for sainthood, born on March 1, 1897, in Studenice, and died on October 17, 1942, in Gradina Donja, Bosnia and Herzegovina (then the Independent State of Croatia). He was born to Anton, a farmer, and Marija, née Orešič, at Brezje 10. He was baptized the following day, March 2. After completing gymnasium, he worked briefly as a teacher before entering the seminary. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1924. He first served as a chaplain in the parish of Pišece, becoming the parish administrator on September 22, 1937. On August 21, 1941, the Nazis expelled him to Croatia, where he served as a priest in Veliko Trgovišće. In September 1942, the Nazis began arresting Slovenian priests working in the Croatian Zagorje region, ostensibly because their presence in the border zone of the Reich was considered problematic. Kodrič was arrested on September 7, 1942, and imprisoned in Varaždin along with others. Six priests, including Kodrič, were subsequently sent to the Jasenovac concentration camp, while the others were released. Upon their arrival on September 20, they worked as caregivers in the camp hospital. Ustaše officials, including Vjekoslav Luburić, treated them like other prisoners, specifically reproaching them for the work of the priest and politician Anton Korošec, whom they accused of having "saved Yugoslavia twice." On October 17, without trial or indictment, they were taken from the camp to an execution site along with a large group of other prisoners. Bound with wire, the priests were ordered to lead the procession and bless the prisoners, regardless of whether they were Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, or Muslim. They were told, "At the end, we will bless you." Realizing this meant death, Kodrič removed his shoes and coat and gave them to a naked prisoner; two other priests did the same.