Hundreds of Catholics protested at Trnava Cathedral following last Monday's announcement that Archbishop Robert Bezák of Trnava, 52, was stepping down with immediate effect.
They said Bezak's dismissal had "disgusted and divided the faithful and society".
On Sunday Bezák told Mass-goers that the Vatican had levelled "serious allegations" against him and barred him from speaking to the media.
The archbishop's Redemptorist order said that the announcement conflicted with his known character as "a good man and religious priest and bishop".
Press reports suggested that Bezák had clashed with the retired Archbishop Sokol when his predecessor accused him of discrimination and restricted his access to the Trnava curia.