Magyar Egyház, 1974 (53. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1974-11-01 / 11. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

11

tuted with regard to its keeping: “It must be guarded like one’s eyesight.”

Whoever once inspected the pantry in Zsuzsanna Lorantffy’s home would come away amazed. In changed form he would see on the shelves the fruit of hundreds of trees and the scent of millions of flowers. He would note rows of jams side by side with bottles of scent and packages of dried fruit and herbs. Preparation for washing one’s hair, to deaden toothache, extracts from rose petals or lilies of the valley both as cosmetics and medication follow one another. A drugstore could not hold an equal stock of medicated liquids prepared from all kinds of plants: one to cure illnesses of the kidney, the other those of the liver, still others beneficial in times of high fever, some to be used simply as a pleasant mouthwash. At stock-taking seventy-one bottles were registered indicating twenty-six different kinds of uses. Just the bulk of this medication would be considered sufficient for the population of a good size city.

She has created a “balsam” that even Melius’s famous Herbarium does not know about. But its recipe was common property among the sick of the Lorantffy estate. It designates the flower from which it is made (peremis) and gives precise instruction as to the process. “Dry the petals thoroughly, turn them quickly over hot butter, press through a silken sieve into a porcelain jar and seal tightly. If treated with it, infected wounds will heal quickly. — If tea is prepared out of the dried petals of the same flower drinking of it will ease the pain of stomach ulcer.”

However, Zsuzsanna Lorantffy was knowledgeable not only about herbs, flowers and embroidery. She read with intelligent application and even wrote a book: “Moses and the prophets.” In her diary there is a note made at the end of a busy day: “I have started reading the New Testament again. This has been my guide all through my life. I pledge myself to its teaching and pray that God keep me on the right path at all times.”

The Castle of Sárospatak and the College represent the joint undertaking of George Rakoczy and Zsuzsanna Lorantffy. They have added the so called Lorantffy section to the castle. The semi-circular balcony overlooking the Garden bears the date of completion: Anno Domini 1643. Below the date is the inscription: Zsuzsanna Lorantffy, wife of the Ruler of Transylvania and Hungary. The model for the carefully executed interior decoration was that of the palace at Gyulafehervar.

At that time the castle was modernized. Rows of bastions housed cannons. There were large openings

for firing big ones and smaller openings for those that would not carry to such great distance. Each bastion has an inscription of its own. Grown ups and children read these words with delight even today. Above one cannon: “I am the nightingale created personally for the noble ruler George Rakoczy in order to protect his home and to destroy his enemies. Dated: 1627.”

According to contemporary concepts the defense was strong. The Lion Bastion was equipped with three thirty ton, one twenty ton, one fifteen ton and five, five ton cannons. Guards manned the walls twenty-four hours a day.

Sárospatak had its own cannon foundry. In times of peace it was busy as a bell foundry. The tolling of bells that had been presented to the churches of Debrecen and Sárospatak can be heard in both places even today.

After George Rakoczy had been elected ruler of Transylvania, managing of the estate at Sárospatak had become Zsuzsanna Lorantffy’s duty. She was an able manager. The business assets have even grown under her supervision. She saw to it that cattle be sold to Vienna, smaller livestock be directed to the Turkish Court, wines from Tokaj be sent to Poland sealed in large barrels traveling in horse drawn convoys. A few lines from a letter of thanks from George Rakoczy to his wife will best reveal the respect and appreciation he felt toward his wife’s share of the burden. “I wish to thank you my dear for your true love that has been he same in good or ill. May God Almighty, Ruler of Heaven and Earth, keep you in His bountiful care for all you have done for me. May he preserve our lives that we continue doing work for his glory.”

Here is Zsuzsanna Lorantffy’s answer to this letter, written in love and humility:

“All I have done was possible only through the grace of God, I take no credit for it. But as long as I live, I shall be anxious to do the work of God and follow your commands.”

Gabor Bethlen was still ruler of Transylvania in 1621 but had not yet undertaken to lay the foundation of Gyulafehervar College when the Rakoczys had made definite steps toward the physical augmentation and educational development of the school of higher learning in Sárospatak. They devised a constitution to become a guideline for centuries to come to all presidents of the school. “Regardless of social status, all able students must be admitted.”

This document takes into consideration every aspect of the life of the school. In order to assure the