Václav Čikl

Alois Václav Čikl · Orthodox parish priest

1 January 1900–September 1942

Václav Čikl, born Alois Čikl, was parish priest of the Resslova Street Orthodox church. With chaplain Vladimír Petřek he helped people persecuted by the Nazis and, after the attack on Heydrich, the seven hidden parachutists. After arrest, he was sentenced to death on 3 September 1942 and executed at Kobylisy. Jindra’s scholarly study gives 4 September, while the Prague 2 encyclopaedia biography gives 5 September. The discrepancy remains unresolved.

The path to priesthood and Prague

Born in Slavětín near Litovel, Čikl studied theology and was ordained by Bishop Gorazd in 1922. He followed Gorazd into Orthodoxy and adopted the religious name Václav. He served in Moravia before becoming the Prague Orthodox community’s priest in 1938.

Helping the persecuted and the hidden men

Before 1942, he and Petřek assisted endangered Jews, including through baptismal certificates. As parish priest he knew of the hidden parachutists and helped provide food and contacts. The actions of particular community members also endangered their families.

Trial and family

The Gestapo arrested Čikl after the crypt was discovered. On 3 September he was tried at Petschek Palace with Petřek, Sonnevend and Gorazd. Jindra dates his Kobylisy execution to 4 September, while the Prague 2 encyclopaedia gives 5 September. His wife Marie was murdered in Mauthausen on 24 October. Their daughters Olga and Taťána were interned and survived the war.

Explore further

• The church in Resslova Street

  served here as parish priest and helped the hidden parachutists

• Vladimír Petřek

  chaplain and collaborator in helping the persecuted

• Bishop Gorazd

  the bishop who ordained him and was tried alongside him

• Petschek Palace

  trial site on 3 September 1942

• Kobylisy shooting range

  execution site in September 1942

• Mauthausen

  where his wife Marie was murdered on 24 October 1942