religion

Hungary set to start preparing 2023 papal visit

Hungary is set to begin preparations for a visit by the pope scheduled for next year, with the pontiff confirming his intention to travel to Hungary, President Katalin Novák said after a private audience with Pope Francis in Rome on Wednesday.

Novák told public media that her 40-minute meeting with the pope covered the topic of a future papal visit to Hungary, the war in Ukraine and family support.

The president said she had handed over an official invitation to the pope and asked him to visit Hungary next year. The pontiff confirmed his intention to travel to Hungary, which means Hungary can begin making preparations for the visit, Novák said. She said Pope Francis’s visit could be scheduled for next spring.

Read alsoWill Hungary ban Russian tourists? Here is the minister’s answer

As regards the war, Novák said she and Francis were in agreement that achieving peace as quickly as possible was a “shared interest”.

“Pope Francis is praying for peace, speaks out for peace and does everything he can to be an ambassador for peace,” Novák said.

Hungarians also favour peace and want the war to end as quickly as possible, she said, adding that her visit to Rome “strengthened our commitment to peace”.

Novák said she and the pope had also talked at length about support for families and specifically Hungary’s family policy. “We spoke about all the things we’ve done in Hungary to make parenthood attractive,” she said, adding that the pope had expressed appreciation for these measures.

She said they had also discussed the importance of supporting the preservation of traditional family values and the traditional family model “especially now when so many are attacking these traditional values”.

Novák said she was proud that the number of marriages in Hungary had doubled while the number of abortions have halved.

“Pope Francis, too, is a committed supporter of traditional family values,” the president said.

Novák said the pope had also stressed the need for female world leaders and had encouraged her to stand up for peace whenever she had the opportunity.

The meeting also touched on Hungary’s support of persecuted Christians, “a mission which Hungary intends to continue”, Novák said, adding that the Vatican supported this intention.

Read alsoWill Sunday shop closures be reintroduced in Hungary?

August 25, 2022

Calvinist Conference in Szárszó: “Blessing and joy, that we are Calvinists”

calvinistic conference Szárszó református Hungary

No matter how strange it may sound: Calvinists form a national strategy of Hungarian Calvinists in the Carpathian Basin. In mid-August, the draft was proposed for discussion at the Conference of Calvinists in Szárszó, so that everyone was given the chance to say how Calvinists can contribute to the life of the Hungarian nation.

According to Reformátusok Lapja, the first conference in Szárszó was held in August 1943, during the Second World War, in the summer camp of the Soli Deo Gloria Association. Many intellectual young people gathered in the open air to discuss the future of the Hungarian nation. Almost eight decades later, it seems unbelievable how many sacrifices young people have made to get to the meeting in Szárszó. There were some youngsters who could only get there by working and saving money for two weeks. The words of Németh László, speaker at the 43rd conference are still actual. The doctor and writer set the goal of “inoculating” Hungarians against the “saviours” sent to us from abroad, whichever part of the world they had come from. According to him, we must choose our own Hungarian way. Some participants were brave enough to express their disagreement, as they were driven by the desire to find the best way for Hungarians.

After seventy-nine years, this question still concerns Calvinist church members. More than 300 people gathered in Szárszó to express their views on the forthcoming national strategy. The Calvinist Public and Cultural Foundation has been hosting this forum for intellectuals for five years. This year, dozens of lectures and round table discussions could be attended by the participants. In addition to the strategic plan, they talked about God and self-awareness, and there were also discussions on the nation-preserving role of the Calvinist education, the family, the congregations and Hungarianism. Among the speakers, there were László Trócsányi, rector of the Károly Gáspár Calvinist University; István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture; Emőke Tapolyai and Komlósi Piroska psychologists; Grezsa Ferenc psychiatrist; István Bogárdi Szabó, professor of theology; András Lánczi philosopher; Mihály Imre, historian of literature, Lajos Bara school principal in Királyhágómellék; Róbert Géresi, Bishop of Upper Hungary, András Csűrös and Levente Sohajda Pastors. The conference was attended by Katalin Novák President of the Republic, who spoke about her Calvinist faith to the audience.

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

Novák Katalin (@katalin.novak) által megosztott bejegyzés

Speaking about the national strategy, Zoltán Balog, the President of the Calvinist Church of Hungary told to the Journal of Calvinists that the existence and service of the church is directed outwards, so to say, the church does not serve itself, but always aims to help others. “It’s worth thinking about what it is that we can do specifically to the life of the Hungarian nation. That is why we are preparing a Hungarian Calvinist national strategy for the Carpathian region.” The participants sought answers to many questions. Recalling the words of Levente Zoltán Hajdú, Pastor of Szólád, and head of the missionary service of the church:

“Do we dare to believe that our church has a victorious Christ, and not fight a defensive rearguard action in the 21st century, where the last one will turn off the lights?”

The conference participants discussed the issues in groups led by well-known Calvinist personalities such as Réka Földváryné Kiss, chair of the National Remembrance Committee, and journalist Bálint Ablonczy. The group leaders reported that the draft strategy was surprisingly active, with people enthusiastically contributing to it. They also discussed the question of why the “entry threshold” is high for some congregations, what makes someone Calvinist, whether the Lord’s Prayer can be a strategy, whether we need to emphasise our differences, and what makes Calvinism attractive without leading to self-abandonment.

The four-day conference in Szárszó gave place to active discussions and debates, demanding presentations, thought-provoking contributions, real fraternal encounters, tears and lots of laughter, which ended with a worship service on Sunday. The local church was full of believers, many of whom were just standing in the doorway to hear the Word of God, which was preached by Archpriest Ferenc Hella.

Read alsoChristmas message – Calvinists: ‘hardship helps us experience essence of holidays’

August 24, 2022

Cardinal Erdő expresses solidarity with arrested Nicaraguan bishop

Cardinal Péter Erdő, the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church, has expressed his solidarity with the Catholic Church of Nicaragua and Rolando Alvarez, its bishop who has recently been arrested.

In a statement sent to MTI on Tuesday, Erdő said he had learned “with a deep shock” about the “serious attack and persecution” against the church in Nicaragua.

Hungarian Catholics will “pray for all of you and for peace in your country”, Erdő said.

Alvarez, a critic of the Nicaraguan government, has been arrested for “organising violent groups and inciting hatred against residents”.

Read alsoPope Francis to resign and Hungarian Cardinal Erdő to succeed?

August 23, 2022

Astonishing Hungarian church renovated in Romania’s 2nd biggest city

St. Michael’s Church in Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár), Romania, was consecrated on Saturday, following a renovation supported with funding from the European Union and the states of Hungary and Romania.

The church, together with an adjacent statue of King Matthias, is the symbol of the city. Archbishop Gergely Kovács noted in his homily that St. Michael’s Church has “great significance” for both Transylvania and the archdiocese. At the end of the mass, Hungary’s Culture and Innovation Minister János Csák said that, without culture, society “would fall apart like a string of pearls unstrung”. “Churches and schools are the string without which our culture would fall to pieces,” he added.

Hungarian-church-Kolozsvar — The interior of the renewed church. Photo: MTI/Gábor Kiss

Attila Cseke, Romania’s minister for development and public works, said the renovation of St. Michael’s Church was an act of “genuine cooperation”, involving EU funding, fiscal contributions from Romania and Hungary, support from the local council of Cluj-Napoca and private donations.

Read also: 5 magical Hungarian castles you must visit- PHOTOS

The renovation, which started in the spring of 2018, cost close to 7 million euros, of which 4 million came from the EU and close to 2 million from the state of Hungary.

The Gothic church was completed in the first half of the 15th century. It’s Neo-Gothic tower was finished in 1859.

Read alsoA beautiful new swimming pool complex opened in Hungary – PHOTOS

August 14, 2022

Do Hungarian churches agree with Orbán’s mixed race speech?

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s speech in Tusnádfürdő has caused a stir around the world. Many politicians defended or attacked the Hungarian PM. But what do the churches say? Read our article below to find out what Christian churches, Jewish religious organisations and experts have to say about Orbán’s speech.

Controversial speech in Tusnádfürdő

“…there is a world where European peoples are mixed up with people from outside Europe. Now that is a mixed-race world. And we have us, where people from inside Europe mix with each other: they move, they work together. That is why, for example, in the Carpathian Basin, we are not mixed-race. (…) We are willing to mix with each other, but we do not want to become mixed-race…,” said Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary.

The speech was a talking point in several places. Many supported Orbán, but many condemned him for his statements. Zsuzsa Hegedűs, a long-time ally of Orbán, resigned after hearing the Prime Minister’s speech. She later changed her mind. The US Embassy also reacted to the Hungarian Prime Minister’s words.

What do religious organisations say?

It is not only politicians who are attracted to the issue, but also religious organisations. Among Jewish religious organisations, the national Chief Rabbi, Róbert Frölich, said that there is only one species on earth, Homo sapiens sapiens. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary said in a statement that Viktor Orbán’s speech had caused serious concern within the Jewish community.

Telex.hu asked the three largest Christian churches for their views on the Hungarian Prime Minister’s words. The Hungarian Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Hungary did not respond. Only the Hungarian Evangelical Church replied to the letter. They write that “the Hungarian Evangelical Church does not wish to comment on general political statements.”

This is how analyst think

After Orbán’s speech, several members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences protested in a petition. Nézőpont Institute analyst Krisztián Talabér also examined the Hungarian Prime Minister’s speech. Talabér believes that Orbán is using the speech as a distraction. Because of the controversial speech, there is less talk about the reduction of overhead cuts, the change of the tax form called kata, and inflation, infostart.hu writes.

Locsolás Watering Hungarian Easter Tradition Magyar Húsvéti Szokás

Read alsoOrbán said Hungarians weren’t a mixed race – what does history say?

August 7, 2022

Hungarian Chief Rabbi also reacts to Orbán’s “mixed-race” speech

The national Chief Rabbi also reacted to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s speech in Tusványos, in which he said that we live in a mixed-race world, but Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin are not mixed-race.

The national chief rabbi also reacted to Viktor Orbán’s speech in Tusványos, which struck a chord with many. The Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp – better known as Tusványos – has become one of the main arenas of Hungarian politics. The Prime Minister was the keynote speaker at this year’s festival again.

There is a world where the peoples of Europe mix with those from outside Europe – a world of mixed races. And we have us, where people from within Europe mix, move, work and relocate. So, for example, in the Carpathian Basin, we are not a mixed race, we are simply a mixture of people living in our own European homelands, Viktor Orbán said in his speech. Read details HERE – Orbán: “Hungarians are not a mixed race and do not want to become one”

In response to this, Róbert Frölich, the national Chief Rabbi, shared a poem on his official Facebook page, in which he wrote that he thought of Attila József, Miklós Radnóti, Antal Szerb, Endre Gelléri Andor, Jenő Rejtő and many other names and faces, known and unknown, who “fell victim to the onion-headed theories of race”.

“Speaking of race. Many different species populate our planet. But there is only one species that lives on this earth, walking, working, talking and sometimes thinking: Homo Sapiens Sapiens. This species is one and indivisible. I commend the above to your attention”

– The Chief Rabbi said in his post.

Several opposition parties and politicians have reacted to the speech. The Ukrainian foreign affairs spokesperson has also commented on the Prime Minister’s statements on the war, saying that Orbán’s speech is “a classic example of Russian propaganda”.

Read more about Viktor Orbán’s speech in Tusványos here – Orbán in Tusványos: Trump could have prevented the war in Ukraine!

Read alsoPM Orbán said which “races” Hungarians might and would not mix with

July 25, 2022

Amazing kosher restaurant just opened in Debrecen! – MENU, PHOTOS

Debrecen’s newest kosher restaurant has been opened by the EMIH-Hungarian Jewish Federation. The Hamsza, which offers modern, Middle Eastern cuisine, is located in the Jewish House in Debrecen, at 5-7 Piac Street.

The restaurant is operated by Co Sharing Trade Ltd, which also runs Carmel Restaurant, Tel Aviv Cafe and Brooklyn Bagel Brunch, which opened a few weeks ago.

Read also: Forint-weakening will have a devastating impact on Hungarians

The new kosher Hamsza restaurant offers locals and tourists alike a taste of internationally-influenced Middle Eastern cuisine, writes 168.hu. The quality dishes are prepared by Israeli chef Ahron Faigen, who studied at the best culinary school in Israel, Tadmor, and worked for a year as an assistant chef under Israel’s most famous celebrity chef, Meir Adoni.

Spices are imported directly from Israel; the lamb is sourced from England; and vegetables are fresh from local producers. Spices are imported directly from Israel; the lamb is sourced from England; and vegetables are fresh from local producers. The menu includes delicacies such as Iraqi beef soup and Moroccan curry.

The kosher restaurant can accommodate around 60 guests. The city of Debrecen is the second most popular destination for Israeli and Jewish tourists visiting the country, after the capital.

Read also: New innovation of Budapest’s transport company making our life easier

“We think it is important to provide, as in Budapest, more and more places in the countryside, not only with programmes related to faith and Judaism, but also with kosher meals. Especially if it means a quality restaurant like Hamsa,”

said Slomó Köves, Chief Rabbi of the EMIH – Hungarian Jewish Federation.

“There will be no Hungarian food on the menu, because I wanted to create something that is completely new in the Debrecen, and I hope in the national gastronomic offer,” Ahron Faigen, creative chef at Hamsza, who was given the task in Debrecen a few months ago, said ambitiously.

The restaurant will be open from 5 PM to 10 PM from Monday to Thursday and from 12 PM to 10 PM on Sundays. The Jewish House, designed by the EMIH, will host cultural and faith-related programmes, as well as classrooms and a playroom. The centre will also provide space for social and charitable activities.

The menu

hamsza kosher restaurant menu — The menu. Source: Facebook/Hamsza Debrecen

Read also5 unmissable rooftop bars in Budapest – PHOTOS

July 11, 2022

Jewish federation in Ukraine acknowledges Hungary’s assistance

Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to thank Hungary for providing shelter to Jewish refugees fleeing Ukraine, the PM’s press chief told MTI.

Rabbi Stambler also expressed hope for the establishment of peace soon in Ukraine, Bertalan Havasi said.

“In times of instability and uncertainty, friends and mutual support are needed more than ever,” the rabbi wrote in his letter. He acknowledged Hungary’s quick response to assist Ukrainians, among them members of the Jewish community, as “an example to be followed”.

Read also: Commander of the Hungarian armed forces paid a secret visit to Ukraine

Rabbi Stambler noted that the Hungarian government had made available a resort village on Lake Balaton to close to 500 Jews from Ukraine who keep kosher.

The FJCU operates 162 communities, 36 synagogues, 29 Jewish schools, 33 kindergartens and four yeshivas and five secondary schools catering to 500,000 Jews.

Featured image: illustration

Read also Front to move closer to Hungary, “hunting squadrons” to be established

July 10, 2022

Currently Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, says Hungarian minister

Data from human rights organisations show that 360 million Christians live in parts of the world where they are subjected to threats, discrimination or persecution, as against 245 million five years ago, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Tuesday.

He told a ministerial conference on the freedom of religion or belief in London that the Hungarian government considered support for Christian communities an important task which contributed to the freedom of religion, the ministry said.

He cited the Hungary Helps programme which had helped around half a million people return to or stay in their homelands and provided over 100 million dollars for building, revamping and operating schools, hospitals and churches.

He said in his address that Christianity was currently facing two main challenges: aggressive secularisation and massive persecution. “Unfortunately, currently Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world,” he added.

He said that Hungary had a thousand-year Christian heritage, which helped the country survive “the storms of history, occupation and all forms of dictatorship”. The fact that Hungary has been able to maintain its statehood has been due to a dedication to its Christian roots and heritage, he added.

Over the past ten years, some three thousand churches have been built in central European areas with ethnic Hungarian residents, the number of church-run schools has doubled in Hungary and the share of students attending such schools has grown from 10 percent to 20 percent, he said.

Read also: Why do hundreds of thousands of Hungarians go to Csíksomlyó on Pentecost?

Read alsoPope Francis to resign and Hungarian Cardinal Erdő to succeed?

July 5, 2022

Pope Francis to resign and Hungarian Cardinal Erdő to succeed?

For months, speculation has been rife as to whether the head of the Catholic Church would resign due to his deteriorating health. According to a prominent Catholic portal, Pope Francis could well name Cardinal Péter Erdő as his successor. Continue reading below for more information.

The Archbishop of Esztergom and Budapest celebrated his 70th birthday last month, reports Blikk. He could be one of the top contenders for the papacy, according to the Christian Herald. However, another candidate for the ailing Pope Francis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, could be a better fit for the current Pope’s liberal views than the Christian conservative Péter Erdő.

Hungarian Cardinal Erdő

Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Primate of Hungary, was born on 25 June 1952. His ordination took place in Budapest on 18 June 1975. Between 1975 and 1977 he served as chaplain in Dorog, and in 1976 he received a doctorate in theology with summa cum laude at the Academy of Theology. From 1977 to 1980, he studied canon law at the Institute of Canon Law of the Pontificia Universitá Lateranense Utriusque Iuris in Rome, on a scholarship from the Pontifical Hungarian Institute, and completed his doctorate in canon law in 1980.

Cardinal Erdő is considered a traditionalist who respects the celebration of the Latin Mass. But Cardinal Erdő is also respected by liberals like the Pope, suggesting he could be a unifying force within the Church. Pope Francis has already appointed Cardinal Erdő as the “relator general” of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The Hungarian cardinal has also been vocal in his support for outreach to Orthodox Christians which may be significant given the huge numbers of Ukrainians currently in Hungary.

It is important to see what Cardinal Erdő would represent as Pope. Pope St. John Paul II was considered instrumental in the collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe. The Polish Pope’s election helped spark the peaceful end of communism in his native country. Cardinal Erdő has shown some sympathy towards Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Read Also: Government: Europe needs to return to peace, stability and normality

Effects of a Hungarian Pope

It is clear that the election of Cardinal Erdő as Pope would help Orbán further his political agenda. During the height of the migrant crisis in the EU, Cardinal Erdő was strongly siding with Hungarian conservative officials. Later in 2019, however, Cardinal Erdő shared some of his thoughts with Válasz Online. During this interview, he was showing a change of heart, directly challenging the views of Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian Cardinal said, “can a country, a continent, be called Christian?”

Seeing the above mentioned, the relationship between the Hungarian Cardinal and the Prime Minister is difficult to define. What is probable is that Erdő’s appointment as Pope would likely lead to further religious divide within Europe.

Read Also: Front to move closer to Hungary, “hunting squadrons” to be established

July 2, 2022

Which European countries are the friendliest to Jewish life? Hungary has an excellent rating

Italy and Hungary were among the friendliest countries overall to Jews, according to a new survey released Monday at the European Jewish Association (EJA) conference in Budapest, allisraelnews.com said.

The study, which found that Belgium and Poland were ranked the least friendly, was conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), under the scientific direction of Dr. Daniel Steietsky.

The countries where Jews in Europe feel most secure are Denmark and Hungary.

Hungary also ranked first with the lowest number of Jews experiencing anti-Semitic attacks, followed by Italy.

Read alsoOrthodox Jews in New York order their kaftans from Hungary

Deputy PM: Relations between Jewish congregations and the Hungarian state are “perfectly organised”

Hungary is one of the safest countries in Europe — possibly even the safest — for Jews, deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén said on Monday.

Semjén told a conference of the European Jewish Association (EJA) in Budapest that Hungary maintained zero-tolerance against anti-Semitism, regardless of whether they are connected to the extreme right, extreme left, Jihadists or anti-Israeli sentiments.

Relations between Jewish congregations and the Hungarian state are “perfectly organised”, with all Jewish institutions, kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and social institutions receiving state financing, Semjén said.

The government has signed comprehensive agreements with Jewish congregations under the arrangements of which former properties seized by the state in the Communist era have been returned or, if the church did not want them returned, compensation has been paid, he added.

Semjén said that in Hungary anti-Israeli sentiments are viewed as a form of anti-Semitism, adding that the government represented this position both in Hungary and in European Union forums, where Israel can count on Hungary. “Hungary vetoes any measures that unfairly attack Israel,” he said.

Semjén also said that radical Islam, which he said was another type of anti-Semitism, was non-existent in Hungary.

Slomó Köves, the chief rabbi of the Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH), said that Hungary’s Jewish community was “living its Renaissance”, while community leaders faced various challenges. Apart from fighting against anti-Semitism and ensuring the security of the Jewish community, of paramount importance is generating interest in real Jewish life, he said.

EJA Chairman Menachem Margolin said that restrictions on the freedom of religion were among the greatest problems for Jewish communities in Europe. Many countries have banned or plan to ban such important ritual activities as Kosher slaughter and circumcision, he added.

Budapest March of the Living commemorates Holocaust victims. Photo: MTI

Read alsoBudapest March of the Living commemorates Holocaust victims – Photo Gallery

European Jewish Association honours Hungarian minister

The European Jewish Association (EJA) has awarded a prize to Interior Minister Sándor Pintér for improving public safety and his role in the fight against anti-Semitism, the Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH) said on Tuesday.

The award was presented by EJA President Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the statement said.

At his annual conference held in Budapest on Monday, EJA presented a comparative study indicating that Hungary was the second “friendliest” European state to Jews after Italy, based on surveys on the community’s sense of safety, as well as attitudes against anti-Semitism and the expression of anti-Israel sentiments.

EJA Director Alex Benjamin praised Pintér’s achievements and the efforts of the Hungarian government. Cooperation between law enforcement agencies and Jewish organisation has flourished on his watch, and the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy against anti-Semitism, he said.

Besides enshrining the protection of the dignity of communities in the Fundamental Law, the government has adopted a number of measures to protect minorities from hate speech and to educate law enforcement officers on hate crimes, the statement said.

June 21, 2022

Black Madonna pilgrimage to Czestochowa begins

A group of Hungarian pilgrims left Budapest on Monday morning for the southern Polish town of Czestochowa, a religious site with the Black Madonna, a treasured icon kept in the Jasna Gora Monastery, the organisers of the pilgrimage tour said.

They will be joined by pilgrims from Transylvania to form a large group of 200, they told MTI, adding that at a time of a receding pandemic and a war nearby, such a pilgrimage was more needed than ever. It also serves to revive the centuries-long friendship of Poland and Hungary, they said.

“As Czestochowa is a Hungarian-founded religious site, it’s almost like we’re going home,” priest Antal Michels told MTI at the departure. “We are taking with us a lot of prayers for peace now with a war going on in neighbouring Ukraine.”

Black Madonna pilgrimage to Czestochowa begins. Photo: MTI

The pilgrims on Tuesday will attend a holy mass celebrated in the Hungarian Chapel of the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Krakow administered by Hungarian bishop József Tamás and Marek Jedraszewski, the Archbishop of Krakow.

They will travel on to Czestochowa on Wednesday to participate in a holy mass and a walk to Calvary at the monastery where they will be joined by Miklós Soltész, the Hungarian state secretary for religious relations, and Tibor Gelencser, Hungary’s consul general in Krakow.

The Black Madonna of Czestochowa is a Byzantine icon from the 6th or 9th century. The icon was taken to Poland by Hungarian Pauline monks in 1382, who founded the Jasna Gora Monastery in the same year.

read also: Celebrate Pentecost at the charming village of Hollókő – PHOTOS

Read alsoWhy do hundreds of thousands of Hungarians go to Csíksomlyó on Pentecost?

Photo: MagyarKurír

June 20, 2022

Why do hundreds of thousands of Hungarians go to Csíksomlyó on Pentecost?

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people gather in Csíksomlyó (Şumuleu Ciuc) in Transylvania. But what is the reason for that? Read our article to learn about the history and significance of the pilgrimage (búcsú) in Csíksomlyó.

Why do so many people pilgrimage to Csíksomlyó?

To this day, the Pentecost Pilgrimage to Csíksomlyó is one of the most important religious events in the history of all Hungarians. Every year, on Pentecost, Hungarian Catholic and Christian believers pilgrimage to Csíksomlyó, Transylvania, in the presence of hundreds of thousands of participants.

According to the faithful, the followers of the Roman Catholic Church can receive a full absolution at Csíksomlyó.

The believer who confesses their sins and repents, visits the shrine in the graceful state of the sacrament of confession and listens to the Holy Mass there, receives a full remission of the punishments remaining after the forgiveness of all their sins.

Read also: 5 new places in Budapest you should not miss

History

According to karpateuropa.hu, the Church and Monastery of St. Mary in Csíksomlyó is one of the greatest pilgrimage sites and cultural and historical monuments of Hungarians. The most valuable part of the church is the statue of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus.

Its history dates back to 1444, when Pope Eugene IV sent a circular letter to the faithful urging them to help the Franciscan order build a church.

In return for their help, he allowed them to hold a pilgrimage (búcsú).

The Pope also mentioned in the letter that large crowds of faithful used to gather for devotions and to venerate Mary. The Szekler people’s veneration of Mary goes back a long way, the ‘Lady dressed in the Sun’ being the main patroness of the people and the object of their prayers since the advent of Christianity.

Read also: This is how Hungary commemorated Trianon today – PHOTOS

Csíksomlyó and the Pilgrimage since Trianon

Csíksomlyó became a true place of pilgrimage after the Peace Treaty of Trianon. From that time on, the statue symbolized not only the faith in God, but also the survival and the unity of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin.

In 2022, on 4 June, the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday, the Pilgrimage to Csíksomlyó was held, which this year coincided with the Day of National Unity.

4 June marked the 102nd anniversary of the signing of the Peace Treaty of Trianon, which resulted in Hungary losing two-thirds of its territory, and some 3.3 million Hungarians stuck outside the borders of the new Hungarian state.

Motto

Every year, the pilgrimage has a motto. The 2005 pilgrimage motto was “Stay with us, Lord!”, the motto of the pilgrimage of 2010 was “Help us now, Mary”, and this year’s was

“Pax et bonum: Peace and goodness!”.

Read alsoHungary lost 2/3rd of its territory 102 years ago: was it inevitable?

June 5, 2022

Celebrate Pentecost at the charming village of Hollókő – PHOTOS

After nearly two years, the Castle of Hollókő is finally open to visitors again. Celebrate Pentecost in Hollókő and get an insight into the Hungarian folk traditions, food specialties and authentic village life!

As startlap.hu reports, unique castle days will take place on Pentecost weekend in Hollókő, which aim to reawaken the old Pentecostal traditions. Péter Kelecsényi, managing director of Hollókő World Heritage Management Nonprofit Ltd. emphasised that

Pentecost is one of the most important holidays of Christianity and the residents of Hollókő are already in deep preparation for the upcoming festivities.

hollókő hungary — Photo: facebook.com/gastroturismoHU/

The interactive programmes during the Pentecost celebration will reenact old customs such as a traditional play during which the young men of the village gather at the churchyard to choose their partners. Another famous tradition is the selection of the Pentecostal king of Hollókő. Furthermore, women put on their most beautiful attire to honour the celebration.

Read also: Why do Hungarians celebrate their name days?

On Sunday, the programmes in the old village will include Pentecost blessing, folk dance lessons, a folk music concert, and a craft fair. All visitors are encouraged to enter the competition in which the person who proves to be the most skilled at folk craft will earn the title of the King of Hollókő.

At the free Pentecost Sunday event, villagers and tourists can savour Hungarian gastronomic delicacies.

On Sunday and Monday, visitors will also have the opportunity to try on medieval weapons and contemporary clothes. If that was not enough, the Knights of St. László will give an armed demonstration in the newly renovated castle. Last but not least, musicians will have several performances in the courtyard.

The castle of Hollókő. Image: www.facebook.com/IloveHolloko/

The UNESCO-awarded village makes sure that tourists have a grand time and get a first-hand experience of the unique Hungarian Pentecost traditions and customs.

Women wearing colourful pleated skirts and people dancing to folk music – this is the Hollókő everybody should see once in their lifetime!

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June 3, 2022

Day of National Cohesion: Several programmes will be organised in Hungary and beyond the borders

Several programmes will be organised in Hungary and beyond the borders to mark the Day of National Cohesion, the anniversary of the Trianon peace treaty concluding WWI, on June 4, the state secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad in the Prime Minister’s Office said on Monday.

National Cohesion Day this year will coincide with Pentecost, a traditional date of pilgrimage of Hungarians to Sumuleu Ciuc (Csíksomlyó), in central Romania, Árpád Janos Potápi told a press conference.

Prayer messages by Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin and in the diaspora who cannot attend will be delivered to the pilgrimage site with the Pentecostal horse-ride held for the fifth time, he said.

The motto of this year’s Csiksomlyó pilgrimage is “Pax et Bonum”, Potápi said, referring to the war in Ukraine.

read also: Csíksomlyó pilgrimage and Tisza-blooming Hungaricums

Hungary’s parliament declared June 4 the Day of National Cohesion by Hungary’s in May 2010 to mark the anniversary of the Trianon treaty signed on this day in 1920, Potápi noted, adding that with the law the parliament reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment towards maintaining and nurturing relations between the members of the Hungarian nation and Hungarian communities.

“Despite of all the hardships of the past 100 years, we are here, we have survived,” he said.

Read alsoCsíksomlyó pilgrimage 2019 – Photo gallery

May 30, 2022

Congratulations to Orbán from Moscow and Brussels

Ursula von der Leyen and Patriarch Kirill congratulates to Orbán.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has sent a letter to Viktor Orbán congratulating him on his re-election as prime minister.

read also: Orbán elected prime minister of Hungary for the fifth time – speech

In the letter, the Patriarch praised Orbán as “one of the few European politicians” to make “an outstanding effort to uphold Christian values” and to “strengthen public morality and the institution of the traditional family”.

He also referred to Orbán’s active role in protecting persecuted Christians in the Middle East and Africa.

Kirill said

Hungary and the Russian Orthodox Church had established good relations in the past few years, and he thanked Orbán for seeing to the needs of the Hungarian Orthodox Diocese and helping to build and renovate Orthodox churches, including the Orthodox Cathedral of Our Lady, “one of Budapest’s architectural gems”.

read also: Oil embargo? MOL makes a huge revenue from Russian oil

European Commission head congratulates Orban

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, congratulated Viktor Orbán on his re-election as Hungary’s prime minister on Monday.

Von der Leyen said on Twitter that

the community faced unprecedented challenges, adding she was looking forward to working together with Hungary to successfully address them.

May 17, 2022

Government: Hungary against sanctioning religious leaders

Hungary rejects sanctions against religious leaders, the state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians told public television on Sunday, commenting on the European Union’s plan to sanction Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Tristan Azbej, who also heads the Hungary Helps aid programme, said that whereas Hungary condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine and supported various sanctions, Hungary supported brokering peace and “sees counterproductive, nonsensical sanctions as harmful”. The Russian Orthodox Church has some 160 million members and 40,000 priests worldwide, Azbej noted, adding that the EU’s “crazy” proposal would ban the patriarch from entering the bloc, isolating religious people from their spiritual leader.

Read also: Former Russian president Medvedev wrote that Orbán was brave to reject the EU ban on Russian oil

The Syrian orthodox patriarch, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Hungarian eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, among others, have turned to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, “the last voice of Christianity and common sense in the EU”, regarding the European Commission’s proposal, which he said would create a dangerous precedent of “keeping other churches in check, and subjecting them to politically motivated sanctions”.

Hungary sees religious freedom as “sacred and inviolable”, and will not support sanctioning religious leaders, he said. Meanwhile, Hungary has provided aid worth 2 billion forints (EUR 5.2m) to Ukraine, he said.

Read alsoThe Hungarian government is in secret talks regarding disengagement from Russia

May 9, 2022

Have you seen the beautifully renewed fortified church of Nagyajta? – PHOTOS

The unitarian church was built between 1360 and 1380 in Nagyajta, Szeklerland, Transylvania, Romania. The European Union supported the church’s complete renovation with EUR 1.1 million. The Hungarian government complemented that sum with EUR 443 thousand. Below, you can see the result in photos.

May 8, 2022