Msgr. Anton Vovk - The First Doctor Honoris Causa Conferred by the School of Theology in Ljubljana

Abstract

The School of Theology was one of the five founding members of the University of Ljubljana. The legislature on universities (as in other parts of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenians/Yugoslavia) was created only gradually. The same held for conferring of the doctorate title. The first one was conferred in 1923. Only Church legislation was valid after 1952 when the School of Theology was excluded from the public school system. The academic titles, doctorates included, were conferred on behalf of the Holy See. The School of Theology conferred the first doctorate honoris causa in 1960. It was conferred to its grand chancellor Bishop Anton Vovk. He was awarded the title because of his many-sided support for the preservation of the School and its educational and scientific work in the decade after School’s elimination from the public school system. 51 divinity doctorates (DD) were conferred until then.

Keywords

• archbishop anton vovk (1900–1963)
• school of theology ljubljana
• doctorate honoris causa