PHOTOS: Basilica at the Abbey of Pannonhalma is 800 years old

President Katalin Novák on Saturday opened the memorial year marking the 800th anniversary of the inauguration of the basilica at the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, in western Hungary.

In her address, the president referred to Pannonhalma Abbey as “Europe’s Christian fortress … whose monks have followed the instructions of (King) Saint Stephen to pray for the survival of the country at all times.”

Members of the Benedictine order “develop and heal the environment rather than poison it; they strive for harmony rather than chaos, seek order rather than disorder, they educate rather than corrupt,” she said.

Education at the abbey’s secondary school is “an inspiration for all schools in Hungary”, she said. “Pannonhalma has been the cradle of Hungarian education, in which knowledge and faith are inseparable … At Pannonhalma competitiveness and moral education go together; they reinforce rather than weaken each other.”

Novák noted that the abbey was founded over a millennium ago, while its school 200 years. “Hungary needs Pannonhalma, a hill that lifts us towards the sky,” she added.

Ahead of the opening ceremony of the memorial year, mass was celebrated by Michael Wallace Banach, apostolic nuncio to Hungary.

Read also:

• Pannonhalma Archabbey – The most remarkable historical place in Hungary – Read our article HERE
• The most beautiful film about Pannonhalma so far – read our article and check out the video HERE

Novák wrote the following post about her visit:

“The Basilica of the Archabbey in Pannonhalma is 800 years old. It is always a joy to come to thousand-year-old Pannonhalma. This is a place where more than ten consecutive centuries of Hungarian history amalgamate. This year, the celebration of Saint Martin’s Day was special as it marked the beginning of the season commemorating the 800th anniversary of the consecration of the basilica. King Saint Stephen of Hungary asked the Benedictines to pray for Hungary at all times. They have faithfully kept this promise. I am grateful to have celebrated today with the Benedictine community and the students of Pannonhalma!”

Here are some photos: