Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis. – Alba Regia. A Szent István Király Múzeum Évkönyve. 32. 2002 – Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei: C sorozat (2003)

Tanulmányok – Abhandlungen - Demeter Zsófia: The History and the Situation of Serb Minority in the East-Transdanubian Region. p. 51–60.

who was an orthodox priest in Fehérvár, was registered as the district dean of Buda. One of the most popular priests of the Serb community was Archdeacon Iván Jáksity. He was the witness of almost the entire 20

th century. He was born in 1909. From 1934 - with some interruptions - he served the community in Fehérvár till his death. One of his main tasks was to do research in the history of the orthodox community in Székesfehérvár. He fulfilled his duty, his book about this topic was published in Serbian in 1962. However, his work about the Rác church has not been published yet. One of the greatest religious grievances of the Serbs was - not just in Székesfehérvár - that according to a resolution from 1732, they could be compelled to celebrate and take part in the Roman Catholic feasts. This regulation was even confirmed by the Council of Governor-General. By all means at the beginning of the 18

th century they were even particular about the appearances: the popes of the Orthodox Church took part in vestments of the Catholic processions. There was only one Catholic custom that the Greek orthodox people welcomed as well. It was the house warming at the beginning of the year. There was a Serbian school in Székesfehérvár for more than 100 years, from 1770 to 1899. The old building of the school situated to the right side of the church, at the corner of Rác and Szúnyog streets. THE ASSIMILATION OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX SERBS It is interesting and should be explained that the larger number of German community in Székesfehérvár had more or less assimilated in the middle of the 19

th century. However, in the case of the Serbs we can talk about it only at the turn of the century or only in the 20

l century when their number decreased. One of the obstacles of the assimilation was that being far from their homeland and because of political reasons the imperial intentions wanted the Serbs to settle down in one block and in one community. They could enjoy their privileges in political units. After 1767 the Rác people living in Székesfehérvár had to pay taxes as a whole in order to maintain the Illyrian legion: the town collected the so called 'legion tax' in one unit. Keeping them in one unit was strengthened by a custom, which had been typical even during the Turkish rule: the subsidiary people lived in the suburb, in the outskirts of the town, in many places in the Rác town. The number of privileges and their desperate fight to realize them obviously strengthened their separation. The most typical characteristics of their isolation were their independent religion. At the beginning of the 19

th century their church was the only tolerated non-Catholic community. They tried to preserve this status with all their mystical rites, peculiar appearances, feasts, long lasting fasts, and their special language, which was mystical, even for the Serbs. At the head of the parish there were the appreciated, rich and working members of the civil society, tradesmen, and craftsmen. They became the driving force of the Serbian education. They had been thinking of leaving the country since they left their country, which provided a special status for them. It became widespread that they were searching for treasure. Although they had a lot of money, they did not buy land, workshops or factories. This mentality kept a distance with the people living around them. Finally the community became absolutely isolated. The Serbian community living in Hungary preserved its language for a long time in addition it became more developed. From the history of the Serbs living in Székesfehérvár it is obvious that the Serbs became bilingual very quickly (by the middle of the 19

l century). So they took the first steps towards assimilation soon but they preserved this level for a long time. The maintenance of the national language and the preservation of the isolation of the community were secured by the intention to have endogamy. By all means because of the demand to get married in the wider community and within the nationality, there was a permanent relation with the original territories and with the smaller communities who remained behind on the way back home. This permanent relation is strengthened by the hierarchy of the Serbian church: the live connection between Karlóca and Belgrade. At the same time the Serbs living in Fehérvár were closely linked to other communities of Hungary: they had relatives in all the communities. There are highlighted lines in the directions of Batta and Pomáz. The attitude of the Serbs in Székesfehérvár in the events of the Revolution and Fight for Freedom of 1848 was important. They did not turn aside from the Hungarians even when the troops of Jellasics, Governor of Croatia, were approaching. This political declaration indicates that the Serbs thought that they would find the prospect of progress in Hungary. The inhabitants in Székesfehérvár can be proud of the skanzen. Although not many of them know that it was because of the historic church that the old houses around Rác church were not pulled down. The surroundings of the monument are also protected. That is the reason why time and the rat race stops for a while in Rác street among the renovated houses. Of course there are still services in the church. There is a mass in the church on every first Sunday of the month. The Serbian community exists as well. It is present in the public life of Székesfehérvár, in the organisation of Serbian Minority Local Government. Visiting the Rác cemetery the following notice can be read on the tombstone of the chapel's builder: 'your beloved memory will live forever in posterity.' 63