Armed guard of honour holds rare Easter ritual in Hungarian church
A rare Easter tradition endures in the Hungarian town of Hajdúdorog, where young armed men known as Christ’s Soldiers stand honour guard at a symbolic tomb inside the local church. Once common across the region, this custom now survives only here, cherished by the local Greek Catholic community.
Historical roots: Christ’s Soldiers
Christ’s Soldiers begin their watch on Good Friday during the Great Vespers and continue through the Easter Sunday liturgy. The tradition originates in the Bible: according to the Gospels, Jewish leaders feared Jesus’ disciples would steal his body after the crucifixion, so they posted guards at the tomb, Lelépő reports.
The tradition has been present in Hajdúdorog since the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Late 19th-century sources refer to participants as “sword-bearing lads” and “guard soldiers”. This local folk custom fused with the Gospel story, as placing armed guards at noble funerals was a longstanding practice among the Hajdú people.
A position of honour
Guarding the symbolic tomb is considered a prestigious role. Until the mid-20th century, only unmarried men who had completed military service were eligible to serve as Christ’s Soldiers. Today, the primary requirement is that candidates have to be local, unmarried young men.
The guards serve in groups of ten to twelve, led by a corporal who oversees their participation in all liturgical events. They wear traditional attire: black trousers, jackets, high boots, Bocskai-style hats, and carry swords. During the vigil, their uniforms are decorated with green thuja sprigs, replaced by white handkerchiefs after Jesus’ resurrection.
Easter liturgical role and cultural heritage
Their first appearance is during Good Friday services, as they march into the church in two rows, boots striking loudly against the marble floor. After Mass, they take part in a procession, accompanying the priest who carries a burial shroud around the church. The shroud is placed inside the tomb, and the guards begin rotating shifts through Saturday night. They return to the church 15 minutes before midnight on Holy Saturday to kiss the shroud.
On Easter Sunday, at a signal from the corporal, the guards kneel in unison, rest their hats on their knees, and touch the tips of their swords together. After the liturgy, they process outside for the blessing of the Easter bread—pászka—with two of Christ’s Soldiers flanking the priest.
The Christ’s Soldiers tradition in Hajdúdorog represents not just religious but also cultural significance. In 2016, at the recommendation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO, the Minister of Human Resources added the custom to Hungary’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage.
A much-kept tradition in Hungary, with the Easter sprinkling poems as a basic premise – you can learn it in English here
Details: The tradition of sprinkling on Easter Monday in Hungary