Pastor and theologian of ECCB, Jakub S. Trojan has died.
On Wednesday, 7 October, Jakub S. Trojan—an Evangelical pastor, theologian, educator, and former Dean of the Protestant Theological Faculty at Charles University—passed away at the age of 99. A prominent figure in Czech Protestantism, he combined theological work with civic responsibility; as a pastor, he officiated at the funeral of Jan Palach in January 1969. Through his approach, his life, and his faith, he shaped generations of Protestants, both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Jakub Schwarz Trojan was born on 13 May 1927, in Paris to Czech parents. After completing his theological studies, he served as a pastor in the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren—first in Kdyně in the Šumava region, and subsequently in the congregation in Libiš (near Neratovice). Jan Palach’s family belonged to this very congregation. At the request of Palach’s mother, Trojan officiated at his funeral on 25 January 1969, at the Olšany Cemetery in Prague; the event was closely monitored by the regime of the time and served as a silent demonstration against the ongoing occupation of Czechoslovakia.
J. S. Trojan was a prominent figure in the "New Orientation" (Nová orientace) movement within the Evangelical Church, which emphasized the social responsibility of the church and offered critical commentary on conditions within the communist state. In 1974, state authorities revoked his license to perform pastoral duties. Nevertheless, he continued his theological work, organized seminars in private homes, and published his writings abroad. In the late 1970s, he became one of the initial signatories of Charter 77.
Following the events of November 1989, he was able to return to public academic life. From 1990 to 1996, he served as Dean of the Protestant Theological Faculty at Charles University (formerly the Comenius Evangelical Theological Faculty). As a professor, his work focused primarily on ethics, issues of power, human rights, and civic responsibility. In 1998, President Václav Havel awarded him the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (3rd Class) for his contributions to democracy and human rights. Jakub S. Trojan left a significant mark on the life of the Evangelical Church, the field of theology, and the public sphere. His thinking was rooted in the conviction that Christian faith cannot remain detached from the issues that occupy society, and that individuals bear a responsibility for the world around them.
The funeral service will take place on Friday, 23 October 2026, at 15.00 at the Evangelical Church of the Saviour (u Salvátora) in Prague.
ℹ️ The Story of Jakub S. Trojan in the Memory of the Nation Project
ℹ️ Recordings as part of the Memory of the Nation project
photo: Ben Skála