Magyar Egyház, 2009 (88. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2009-07-01 / 3-4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9. oldal TIBOR TOLLAS Introduction to a great Hungarian patriot and author By Klári Vereczky Málisí* Since his works had not become public until communism was ousted, few Hungarians heard about Tibor Tollas until the new Republic of Hungary was established in 1989. When the Rev. Joseph Novák, pastor of the American Hungarian Baptist Church in Alhambra, California, learned that my late husband Sándor Vereczky and I knew Tibor Tollas, I was asked to write about this great Hungarian patriot, author and poet of whom little was known before communism was overthrown in Hungary. Tibor’s poetry and his writings denouncing the totalitarian dictatorship with its prisoner abuse had been banned by the Communist Party’s regime. Sándor and I first met Tibor in 1965 in Daytona Beach, Florida, when he was an honored guest at a fundraiser for his newspaper, Nemzetőr (The Guardian). I shall never forget the rapt attention and stunned silence among the American guests who did not understand a word as he passionately recited from memory his poem Bebádogoztak minden ablakot (They’ve Walled Up Every Window Tight With Tin). (Prison inmates had asked Tibor to write this poem when the guards began sealing up and blocking the only ray of light in their dank prison cells. It eventually became the standard-bearer for those seeking liberation from the totalitarian dictatorship.) Tibor Kecskési Tollas, an officer in the Hungarian army, had spent nine years as a political prisoner at the infamous Vác prison and other penal institutions where inmates communicated by tapping messages in code on prison walls He helped ease those years of physical abuse and solitary confinement by composing poetry and his messages to the outside world were smuggled out of prison on ragged sheets of toilet paper, deftly rolled into cigarettes. Tibor escaped during the aborted 1956 Hungarian freedom uprising and began publishing a newspaper, Nemzetőr (The Guardian), in Munich, Germany. It has been published in Hungary since 1989 when the nation was freed from Soviet rule. A magnetic and warm personality totally dedicated to his cause, Tibor traveled around the world for subscriptions to help finance his newspaper. It was being published in five languages and had a worldwide readership. When my husband and I moved from Daytona Beach, Florida, to Los Angeles in 1968, the good Lord must have directed our future because Tibor was visiting in California at that time. Learning that we were in the area, he immediately introduced us to renowned Hungarian actress Eva Szörényi and members of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters World Federation. We participated in the Federation’s struggle to help liberate the Hungarian people and Tibor often visited us in Thousand Oaks, California. While he rested at our home on a sunny hillside, he talked about his years of imprisonment, enduring forced labor in the mines, and how he had become the voice for prisoners at Vác. Tibor confided to us that he never planned to become a poet or newspaper publisher. It seemed those years of suffering changed his perspective of life and he wrote numerous poems with deep insight into the existence so many of us take for granted. He had a warm, magnetic personality and loved people. Fred Hefty, another political prisoner who maintained friendship with Tibor through the decades, told me at his home in Big Bear City, California, that Tibor had been caring and compassionate toward others even during the rigors of life in prison. He seemed to love everything about life. When my mother passed away in 1988, he dedicated a poem to her memory. A prolific writer, numerous books were published with Tibor’s beautiful compositions and he continued to travel around the world accepting support for his beloved newspaper. He told us that he became bored during an illness and a friend suggested he write about trees greening outside his hospital window. In his book, Irgalmas Fák (The Merciful Trees), the closing poem dramatically portrays the tree of crucifixion on which our Lord Jesus Christ was slain. Tibor’s poetic legacy will expand as his magnificent work—banned under communism—becomes better known and admired by Hungarians. Several already have been translated into English, including Bebádogoztak minden ablakot. Moments Sándor and I had with Tibor Tollas are precious memories, and I thank God we had the privilege of meeting this great Hungarian patriot. Sándor and I were saddened when our friend passed away in 1977 at the age of 77. He is survived by his widow, Dr. Maya Kecskési, and their three children who live in Munich, Germany. Tibor’s biography is included in his volume of verse, Hazafelé (Homeward Bound) and a museum in his memory was dedicated in the 1990s at Nagybarca, Hungary. Tibor Tollas’s beloved newspaper Nemzetőr, continues to be published under the editorship of Dr.Gál Lajos in Mány, Hungary. Hebrews 12:25-28. „So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.” As pastors, ministers, the Lord is impressing us to pray more and stay close to Him so that we can hear what He is telling us daily. It is exciting to hear His voice. Here is what we must all pastors do to remain spiritually strong: 1. ) Pray 2. ) Fast 3. ) Read and study the Word of God 4. ) Join with other believers in prayer and fellowship. 5. ) Reach out to the poor and others with our testimony and help them in their need. 6. ) Tithe and give (This is not the time to stop giving as it establishes our covenant with God and shows that we trust Him and His promises and our provision and security is not in the world's financial system, but rather comes because we are connected to the Kingdom of God.) 7. ) Speak words of faith according to the Word of God and do not speak lack or fear in regard to our individual circumstances. God is greater than our circumstances. He will not fail us no matter what we may need. Although everything is shaking, we are assured that everything that is built on the rock of Jesus will remain standing once the shaking ends. Praise God! Soli Deo Gloria!
