Government officials commemorate birth of Hungarian state

(MTI) – Government officials commemorated the August 20 national holiday nationwide, remembering the creation of the first Hungarian state by St Stephen.

Addressing state celebrations in Eger, eastern Hungary, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen said it was the decision of St Stephen, the first king of Hungary, that the country should not become subordinated to any power, the Holy Roman Empire or the Byzantine Empire. It was also the will of the Hungarian nation earlier that the country should not become a colony of Moscow. And still today, Hungary will not become subordinated to world power centres, either, Semjen said.

Janos Lazar, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, told a gathering in Hodmezovasarhely, south Hungary, that the day of St Stephen is Hungary’s birthday, and the symbolic date marking the birth of the state is all about creating and building. The day is also a symbol of Hungary’s century-old place and role in the Christian world and to its historic belonging to a European community, he said.

Deputy Fidesz leader Lajos Kosa, said in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, that St Stephen’s deeds were exemplary and unique in the history of the European people and it was a success story the way Hungarians coming from the east could find their home and fit into Europe, taking on Christianity and becoming a successful country to this day.

Photo: MTI – Zoltan Mathe, Gergely Zoltan

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters