Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-09-01 / 9-10. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD assembly (Diet) passed an act against the Lutheran reformation in the parliamentary session held in Buda (1523 & 1525). Mátyás Dévai, also known as the Hungarian Luther, was sent to prison and the taken for trial by Inquisition in Vienna. But the spread of the Reformation could not be stifled by the Catholic Counterreformation that started in the second half of the century. (The best example of this is of Peter Bornemissza.) By the middle of the 16th century a considerable segment of the population had become Protestant. In 1549 the Hungarian Diet also accepted the Lutheran confession (Confessio Pentapolitana) of the five free royal towns of Upper Northern Hungary. Later the Lutherans of the Western Trans-Danube region translated the Formula of Concord into Hungarian and accepted it, in 1598. The teachings of the Swiss Reformers had became known thoughout Hungary by the second half of the century, and the proponents of Calvinist theology reorganized as a separate Church. In 1567, the Reformed pastors signed the II Helvetic Confession, under the leadership of Peter Meliusz Juhasz at the Council of Debrecen. Meanwhile, in Transylvania and the southern parts of Hungary, an anti-Trinitarian denomination had become wide-spread (Ferenc David became the first Unitarian bishop). In 1550 at the Diet of Torda, Prince Zsigmond of Transylvania (1540-1571) declared freedom of religion, unique to Europe: "Every man may hold to his God-given faith, and under no circumstances shall one religion interfere with another." Printing of books also became one of the most important means for the spread of the Reformation in Hungary. Several of the Protestant pastors had a printing press (in Brasso/Kronstadt/ Brasvov, RO, Johannes Honterus; in Magyarovar, etc., Gal Huszar; in Kolozsvar/Klausen-berg/Cluj-Napoca, RO, Gaspar Heltai). The school system based on the classical education formula of Melanchton played an important role in the formation of new schools and new editions of school books. Significant theological books were written in Latin by Protestant pastors and used all over Europe (see Reformed works by István Szegedi Kiss, Peter Laskai Csókás and Izsák Fegyvemeki). Other subjects on the Reformation written in the mother tongue promoted the comprehensive cultivation of literature in the Hungarian language. In 1590 the Bible was published in Hungarian at Vizsoly (translated by Gaspar Karolyi and his coworkers), following the initiative of a partial translation of the Bible begun by Erasmus adherents Benedek Komjáthy, Gabor Pesti, Janos Sylvester, and others. About one-third of the poems written in Hungarian in the 1600’s were of Protestant congregational and liturgical hymns and chants, or sermons, (e.g. poems of András Szkharosi Horvath), and biblical stories. Commentaries, volumes of sermons, dramas about religious controversies (e.g. by Mihály Sztarai), writings of confessions, and prayer books written in Hungarian not only popularized Protestant doctrines, but they also nurtured a wider reading public. Hungarian Reformed Summer Youth Camp Report July 15-21,2012 Mennonite Conference Center, Laurelville, PA Camp Directors: Les Torok (Calvin Synod) and Gabe Csapó (Hungarian Reformed Church of America). Program Coordinator: Kathy Smith. The theme for this year’s Youth Camp was entitled “Living for Jesus in a Non-Christian World” based on Romans 10:14. The topic was further divided into relevant sub-categories that became the focus of the guest speaker's presentation each day: Monday - Fear Factor, Tuesday - Survivor 101, Wednesday - The Bachelor and Bachelorette, Thursday - Wipe Out, and Friday — Amazing Race. The speakers were: Rev. Judith Mayer, Lehel Deák, Perry & Julie Kuhn, Dave Kohout, and Sandy Crumrine, respectively. Although we experienced the lowest attendance thus far with 17 campers, 3 children, and 18 adult counselors, the lack of numbers was more than compensated by enthusiasm, close fellowship, and spiritual growth. Programing is fully planned and structured with both faith-based nourishment and physical activities. There is an hour-long Bible Study after lunch where the campers and counselors are split into four groups; each day they move to a different study session lead by one of the counselors. Bible based team challenge, field activities, and workshops fill the rest of the afternoon. After dinner there are other one-hour workshops followed by routine programing; viz., initiations, a night walk to Sunset Hill (weather permitting), volley-ball, dance, and talent-show. Friday night is always reserved for the consecration service with Holy Communion. On Wednesday at noon there is a traditional tour of the Bethlen Home facility and opportunities to interact with the residents with group singing and bingo. We thank the Bethlen Home for their hospitality and for covering the bus transportation cost to and from camp. We also thank the William Penn Association, HRFA District 3000 of GBU (Pittsburgh), and the Kossuth Foundation (Washington D.C.) for the generous yearly financial support. The past few years our camp staff has been preparing three of the dinners in the original lodge building to save on expenses. Special thanks to Mr. Csornán, Joe and Manci Király from the William Penn Association for providing a sumptuous chicken-paprikásh dinner on Thursday night that everyone enjoyed tremendously.We also thank participating churches, counselor staff, and other individuals for their donations to help make the camp a memorable event. In Christ, Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi counselor-staff member Rev. Stefan Torok goé#
