Ivanka Škrabec Novak

Ivanka Škrabec Novak (17 March 1915 – 4 June 1942) was a Slovenian teacher. She was martyred by Communists while six months pregnant because of her devout Catholic faith and opposition to Communism. She is currently in process of beatification by the Episcopal Conference of Slovenia. Her current title is Servant of God.

Early life "Škrabčeva domačija", the birthhouse of Ivanka Škrabec Novak in 1940. Ivanka's great-uncle Stanislav Škrabec (1844–1918), Slovenian linguist. Ivanka was born in a devout Catholic Slovenian family on 17 March 1915, in Hrovača. She had eleven brothers and sisters.

Work In 1936 Ivanka moved to Pišece and started working as a teacher in primary school there. She was employed there for three years.

In the evening of June 3, 1942, Partisans entered the house, where Ivanka was renting an apartment, and found Ivanka there praying the rosary with the landlord and his family. She begged them to spare her until she gives birth, so that her unborn child might live. It was the morning of the feast of Corpus Christi. , book Zamolčane žrtve 2. svetne vojne 1941-1945 v paršuje Krka, Šmihel in Zagradec (The silenced victims of World War II 1941-1945 in the parishes of Krka, Šmihel and Zagradec) by Milan Muhič and book Kalvarija notranjske dežele (Calvary of the Inner Carniola) by Maks Ipavec.

The last part of the letter says: "Look, my child, the morning is already approaching. The first dawn from behind the mountains announces it... for us the last morning of suffering. The morning will rise again - but without suffering and tears... rising with God... Just sleep peacefully, for your mother watches over you... Look, the red dawn already announces that the day is awakening... and the last stars are going out in it... The clock in the tower is already announcing the morning... which will take us on our last journey... I will not be alone... you will be with me, my child... and Mary - as she did with her Son on Calvary, will go with us... In the last, final breaths, she will stand by us... and she will carry us to an eternally happy home. No one will ever again spoil this happiness for us... for we will be immersed in the eternal God... in the eternal peace of God... My child, just sleep... Mary is with us... Look... they are coming... they are coming...".

Servant of God Ivanka is currently undergoing a process for recognition of martyrdom and sainthood within the framework of the joint process of Slovenian Martyrs of the 20th century, which was officially opened by the Episcopal Conference of Slovenia on 28 October 2002.