František Vaňák

FRANTIŠEK VAŇÁK

Born: June 28, 1916
Deceased: September 14, 1991

Titular Bishop of Assuras, 1989
Archbishop of Olomouc, 1989-1991

Official blazon

(en) Quarterly Gules and Azure, a cross Argent bearing the words QUIS UT DEUS in black letters on the horizontal beam, and in the dexter chief the cryptogram of St Mary of the third.

Origin/meaning

When the bishop was appointed the church authorities in Olomouc presented a number of suggestions all of which were greatly at variance with the laws of heraldry and, indeed, with heraldry in general. It was suggested that the arms should feature actual figures of some four or five saints, or the true picture of the cathedral of Olomouc. After some argument it was agreed that symbols of the saints instead of their whole figures could be used, and their number was reduced to two, St Francis of Assisi, the bishop's personal patron saint, and St Michael, who amazingly happened to be the patron saint of all the parishes where the newly nominated bishop had served during his life.

The first draft could be blazoned thus: Azure, a pair of scales Or surmounted in pale by a sword Argent, hilted of the second and enflamed proper; on a chief Gules a cross also Silver bearing the words QUIS UT DEUS in black letters, and in the dexter canton two crossed arms of the fourth, one naked and the other one habited Sable, both stigmatised also proper.
The scales, the flaming sword and the cross with the motto all referred to St Michael the Archangel (actually the words are the Latin translation of the Hebrew name Michael), while the two crossed arms were taken as symbols of St. Francis.

When the draft was submitted to the bishop, he expressed an additional wish to include the cryptogram of St Mary. This was then placed in the sinister chief. The bishop's personal motto ERITIS MIHI TESTES appeared under the shield, both in Latin and in Czech, according to the bishop's desire.

A few days later someone expressed fears that the flaming sword might be taken to be a sign of a militant church, and the bishop sided with this apprehension. Consequently a branch of palm as a symbol of peace was used to replace the sword. Simultaneously a much simpler design was also forwarded to the bishop.

The bishop finally selected the second, simplified version, which is shown above.

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