Magyar Egyház, 1996 (75. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
1996 / 1. szám
10. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ Magdalene of her spiritual insight. “She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.” She has fallen into her former state when Christ had to encourage her: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50) In the person and behavior of Mary, we can see our mirror image. How many times, after the cruel turns of fate crushing and defeating us at every steps, Jesus was standing beside us and we did not recognize Him. Our bitter tears had obscured our vision. How many times had he witnessed our work, faith and endurance? You would not have done such a poor job, would not have wandered onto unfaithful pastures, had you recognized Him in your presence. He is calling you now, at this Easter season, as he did get Mary’s attention by calling her name, to be aware of His majestic presence. His voice is ringing through the ages to find you to make you cognizant of his ever-comforting, ever-loving heart. Turn around with Mary and the doubting Thomas and with all the disciples and faithful saints and believers and fall down to His feet. Let the wondrous recognition open up your eyes to his true being. Cry out! “Rabboni!” My great Teacher and Master! Lift me up from this dust-existence, from the graveside of lamenting winter to the sparkling spring of resurrection and eternal life. Amen. Alexander Forro, bishop 17,000 STUDENTS ARE EDUCATED IN REFORMED SCHOOLS OF HUNGARY The national ceremony of reopening the educational institutions of the Reformed Church took place in Budapest. Today, on national level, 85 reformed education and training institutions are working, that is hardly 7 percent of the number that was available before 1948 (at that time 1246 basic, secondary, and higher level training and educational institutions were in the property of the Reformed Church). At the ceremony, the sermon was held by Dr. Lorant Hegedűs, bishop, ministerial president of the Synod. Dr. P. Miklós Csikai, Head of Educational Department of the Synod Office, pointed out: “Our church takes responsibility for all its schools, as well as for the 17,000 students, for their bodily and spiritual growth. Dr. Kalman Csiha, bishop of the Reformed Church District of Transylvania, in his speech of congratulation stressed: “The church and the nation need Hungarian reformed young people of good quality, spiritually strong and rich.” Dr. Zoltán Báthory, deputy secretary of state, in his address on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Education, said: “the youth now growing up must bring about a wiser, more human order, to which church schools may grant a great contribution.” THE BUILDING UP OF SPIRITUAL UNITY IS IN PROGRESS The Presidential Board of the Consultative Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Churches held its first enlarged session on the 15h of December, 1995, in the Budapest Headquarters of the Reformed Synodical Office. Participants in the meeting were, in addition to Dr. Kalman Chiha, bishop (ministerial), István Szabó (secular) presidents, Dr. Lorant Hegedűs, bishop, managing president, and almost all the reformed bishops of the Carpathian basin, furthermore the leaders of the ten Committees of the Synod. The reason for the enlarged session was that the Hungarian reformed bodies are making preparations for three events: 1) On August 3, 1996, World Meeting III of the Hungarian reformed people will start in Nagyvarad, (Transylvania, Romania), the direct programs of which will take place until August 10, in Transylvania, and the programs linked to it will serve as occasions for visiting the most significant historic memorial places of the Hungarian people. 2) Prior to that on August 2, the Consultative Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Churches will hold its regular annual assembly in Nagyvarad (Romania) or in Debrecen. The extraordinary nature of this assembly will be expressed in that - as a result of the work in the Committees - it would like to submit the draft of the common Hungarian liturgy and hymn-book to the member congregations. Thus, it wishes to express repeatedly the reality of being united in one body and spiritual fellowship. Furthermore, the participants of the enlarged session decided to compile a documentary volume dealing with the Synod, and a memorial volume in which the Synod is willing to make announcements about itself and its aims. They decided on developing a common program of prayers, according to its order, that the reformed parishioners may take heed in their prayers of the worries of their brethren, living all over the world, and for the problems of the world. 3) The third subject matter consisted in compiling report about the preparations for the assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, to be held in Debrecen, in 1997. The Reformed Church in Hungary, as well as the reformed churches living in the countries in our neighborhood, all attribute an extraordinary significance to this big assembly, as to one that makes it possible for the reformed people of the world to become more closely acquainted and get to know better the reformed people who are living in the Carpathian basin. Oliver Czövek
