The parsonage was watched by carriers

The funeral of Jaroslav Seifert took place on 21st January, 1986. The state service was held in the Rudolfinum under strict surveillance of the State Security. The church service was then held in the basilica of St. Margaret in Břevnov where Alois Kánský acted as the parson at the time. The daughter of Jaroslav Seifert asked him to take charge of the funeral. “There was no other way than by passing through the parsonage, there were carriers and water cannons there. Kemr did the reading, Haken sang, many actors, performers, philosophers and dissidents had come.” At the time, Kánský regularly reported himself to the State Security; he had signed up for collaboration. Shortly after the funeral the State Security contacted him. “The State Security guys called me: ‘Mr Kánský, from this moment on we won’t believe a word you say, you were supposed to turn the funeral...” When Mr Kánský was recollecting the phone call, he stopped in the middle of a sentence. He probably wanted to say that he was supposed to turn the funeral into a mere private event for the family. “Around-the-clock I was answering phone calls regarding the funeral – was I supposed to say that I didn’t know when it would take place?”