Matthew of Janov

c.1355-1393. Czech Reformer. He studied at Paris (1373-81), gaining first a master's degree, and then spent six years studying Scripture. He returned to Prague through Rome and was received as titular canon of the cathedral, but prevented from fulfilling the office. Appointed a confessor in 1381, he held this office for seven years until granted a poor parish. Greatly influenced by Milic*—“father of the Czech Reformation”—he followed his pattern of biblical preaching, which brought him many enemies, but this served to make him study Scripture more diligently as the exclusive source of doctrine and preaching. This resulted in his profound work in five volumes, Regulae veteris et novi testamenti, which served as a source of inspiration to subsequent leaders of the Czech reform movement. Either Matthew himself or his followers translated the whole Bible into Czech.