Jakub Schwarz Trojan, theologian who officiated Jan Palach's funeral, dies at 99

Jakub Schwarz Trojan, a prominent Czech evangelical theologian and clergyman, has died at the age of 99. He was a significant figure in Czech Protestantism and a known opponent of the communist regime.

Trojan is widely remembered for officiating the funeral of Jan Palach in January 1969, following Palach's self-immolation to protest the Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia. During the service, Trojan emphasized the moral responsibility of individuals toward society. This act of defiance led to scrutiny by the State Security (StB), and he was eventually stripped of state permission to preach, forcing him into civilian work.

Despite political pressure, Trojan continued to preach in secret and became one of the first signatories of Charter 77. Following the Velvet Revolution, he served as the dean of the Evangelical Theological Faculty at Charles University, where he was a long-time educator.