Hungary, August 20 – Photo Gallery

Hungarians commemorated the August 20 national holiday nationwide, remembering the creation of the first Hungarian state by St Stephen. The Daily News Hungary editor staff collected the most beautiful MTI’s pictures from August 20.

Kossuth square

Celebrations of Hungary’s August 20 national holiday started with a flag-hoisting ceremony in front of Parliament on Wednesday morning. The ceremony was attended by President Janos Ader, Speaker of Parliament Laszlo Kover, members of the government, including Defence Minister Csaba Hende, as well as public personalities, diplomats and military attaches. August 20 is a holiday of St Stephen in honour of Hungary’s first Christian king and Hungary’s statehood.

Saint Stephen Basilica

President Janos Ader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and deputy PM Zsolt Semjen attended a holy mass in Budapest’s Saint Stephen Basilica on Wednesday, marking the holiday of the canonised Hungarian king.
Addressing the congregation in front of the basilica, Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Budapest-Esztergom, said that “we must insist on the values of truth and love, and pray for the grace of forgiveness and starting again” so that the developments of 1914 should not happen again. He warned that if selfishness, hatred and revenge take control over the people, a “devastating violence will flood the Earth”.