Dénes Dienes: History of the Reformed Church Collég in Sárospatak (Sárospatak, 2013)
FLOURISHING AND SCATTERING THE REFORMED COLLEGE IN THE 17TH CENTURY - Turtur gemens - the College in exile (1672 - 1703)
52 THE REFORMED CHURCH COLLEGE IN THE 17TH CENTURY that the fortunes of the school were followed closely by many parties beyond its immediate geographical area. Some of these, like Anna Lónyay, the widow of János Kemény, Prince of Transylvania, remembered the school in their wills. For decades the school used a Biblical symbol on the basis of the verse of Revelations 14:7 and related it to itself. There remained a seal from 1613 which consisted of an angel holding a trumpet and thus proclaiming the Gospel. The students of the fugitive school changed it and adjusted the symbol to reflect their situation at the given time. On behalf of the youth, the senior wrote a letter to László Rákóczi in 1690 in which he requested that, according to the will of his late brother, Lajos Rákóczi, the coetus receive the promised donation. The document was authenticated by a seal in black wax. On the seal was the image of an open book and the text turtur gemens. Above the text was a dove with outspread wings. This weeping and suffering dove was the symbol of those who were persecuted for Christ and for the truth. These two words together are a reference to Isaiah 59:11 where it says: “...we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. ” or Isaiah 38:14: “...I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!” János Csécsi dedicated his life to the College. Together with his students he lived long enough to witness the fulfillment of his request. (The Bible quotes are from the NIV)
