Magyar Egyház, 1974 (53. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-11-01 / 11. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ highest possible level of learning, they took care to provide books. They bequeathed their family library to the school. This act has created a library within the walls of the school that was then number one in the country. Beyond that George Rakoczy wanted to acquire the famous Corvinas that made up the library of King Matthias. Before the Turkish devastation of cultural effects these books in the royal palace of Buda were the wonder of the world. Rakoczy was unaware of their sad fate. He believed at the time that they were still intact in the royal palace Accordingly he gave hundred tallers to Zulfikar, a Turkish convert of high rank, to use his influence at the proper authorities “to get at least one hundred and fifty of the beautiful Latin manuscripts still in Buda.” If he could get all of them, “I would be willing to give one thousand tallers.” He had to resort to political finesse when dealing with the Turkish Court. To the Sultan he phrased his request, “to minimize the expense we must incur when we send our able sons to Austria for higher learning.” The Sultan asked for 5.000 tallers. Rakoczy could not meet this demand. However, the historic fact is that by that time there were hardly any manuscripts left. Most of them were destroyed in warfare and looting. A few found their way to various public and private libraries in the world. After the death of her husband in 1648, Zsuzsanna Lorantffy continued the further development of the college with the help of her son, Zsigmond. They invited John Amos Comenius to be the President. He was a world famous educator, Head of the Chech Protestant Church that at that time suffered much prosecution. To quote from their letter: “Come and be our guide and helper in instituting your natural educational methods that have made you famous all over the world within the walls of our school which we have devised for the good of our nation and to the glory of God.” The great educator arrived at Sárospatak in 1650. It was here that he put into practice the theories that constituted his educational vision. To quote from his inauguration speech: “The name of Sárospatak refers to the muddy condition of the streets, but let us take no note of that. From this muddy background there will grow the power of higher learning which will create a city of well paved streets with strong brick buildings to replace those old wooden huts that are lining them today.” Then referring to the school itself, he thus outlined the possibilities: “I am planning a school that will become a workshop of true humanity, from which men sound in mind and body will go forth.” He devised a plan of learning that would cultivate all aspects of a person in equal measure. He placed great emphasis on physical education because he was convinced that only physically healthy people were able to exert themselves intellectually. The widow Zsuzsanna Lorantffy offered him remuneration that was double to that of any famous professor at well known universities outside Hungary. He was spared every needless disturbance to such a degree that he could continue with his literary activities. That is why by far the greater part of Comenius’ literary achievement — which commands respect for its bulk only — was brought forth while he lived in Sárospatak. He wrote his well known Janua and its illustrated version, Orbis Pictus while there. The latter was twice presented in dramatic form by the students of the School. As in life, Zsuzsanna Lorantffy was humble in death. We do not know where she is interred. Circumstantial evidence leads us either to the church or to the family chapel which today is the Hotel Borostyán. Nobody knows where actually the famous Gombos Garden was. Steps, leading to the rooms of the castle are now carrying visitors to a museum. But most of the Rakoczy treasures have disappeared. Only a few are left in the museum. Family gold and silverware was melted down in Viennese workshops. However, one altercloth, embroidered for the church in Sárospatak, the greatest treasure of the Protestant Museum in Sárospatak is exhibited, spread out in its entirety under cover of glass. Cardinal Mindszenty visits Very Rev. Antal Borbas in San Francisco.
