Jānis Mendriks (21 January 1907 – 1 August 1953) was a Latvian Catholic priest who was killed in a Soviet Gulag during the 1953 Vorkuta uprising.
Mendriks was born in Logocki, Kalupe Parish, in southern Latgale (then in Russian Empire).
The mostly passive strike was put down on 1 August, when Soviet Army troops were ordered by the Vorkuta Gulag camp chief Derevyanko to fire at the strikers, resulting in the death of at least 53 prisoners.
While the workers of Vorkuta were protesting and rioting, Mendriks decided to move to the front row of the prisoners, believing that as a priest he should be where the people were dying to prepare them to meet God.
Mendriks started reciting the formula of absolution: "Misereatur vestri Omnipotens Deus" in the front row and was shot dead by a Soviet Army soldier.