The communist regime persecuted Vovk mentally (through nighttime interrogations) and physically, although he had not cooperated with the Axis forces during the war and had promoted Slovene identity.

Vovk steadfastly sought to have the communist authorities recognize the constitutionally defined position of the Church and to abandon their persecution and accusations against it.

Under the influence of such propaganda, on 20 January 1952 Vovk was doused with gasoline and set alight by secret police agents at the Bršljin train station[1] in Novo Mesto, where he had traveled in order to bless the renovated organ in the nearby Parish of Stopiče.

[2][3]: 13  At the time, the Slovene press in Yugoslavia and abroad denied that Vovk had been burned at all[4][5] or stated that he had suffered only minor injuries.

[6] On 13 May 1999 an episcopal decision was made to begin the process for his beatification, whereby Vovk acquired the epithet Servant of God.