Reformátusok Lapja, 1969 (69. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-03-01 / 3. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 The College and Seminary of Pápa The location of the College of Pápa reaches far into history, for it is known that this territory was already inhabited in the bronze age. After the Hungarians occupied the Carpathian Basin, this land belonged to the rulers. According to legend, it was in Pápa that the Hungarian crown, which had been given by the pope, was presented to King Stephen by Asztrik. Historical records tell us that this location received its name from the landowner, George Pápa, who in 1430 received the authority of King Zsigmond to built a fort there. The principles of the Reformation were proclaimed in Pápa after the Mohács Battles of 1526 by Bálint Illési, a franciscan monk. This monk was later taken to Debrecen by Bálint Török of Enying to further spread the Reformation. After Illési, the Reformation was continued by Mihály Sztár ay for two years; then by Gál Huszár followed by his son David Huszár. In 1577, David Huszár in his fathers press, printed the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Hercegszőllős. Among the outstanding and learned ministers of Pápa were István Pathai and János Pálfi of Kanizsa. Their ministry strengthened and protected the Reformation. When the Church and College were invaded by Austrian troops, the students ran to the church tower, not wanting the Church to be overrun by the invaders. The soldiers however, threw one of the students down from the tower, and only then were the remaining students removable. The Reformed congregation of Pápa was under constant persecution from 1752 to 1783. After these 31 years of exile, they returned to Pápa and built a new church. The church however, had to be built without a tower, without a door opening to the street, and facing the courtyard. This building was used until 1936, when a new twin-towered church was built. The new church was built on a square facing the main buildings of the College and the Reformed Women Teacher’s College. The basis of the consistory in Hungary was born in Pápa. János Pálfi organized the first consistory and it was approved in 1618 by Bishop István Pathai. During the era of persecution and hardship, the consistories were the strength of the Reformed church, and without them, the church would not have survived. The founding of the Pápa College and Seminary in 1531, coincides with the spread of the Reformation. The Pápa School was the spiritual and cultural strength of the Reformed people in Transdanubia, especially during the ruthless recatholization years. It was under Count Ferenc Eszterházy on May 12, 1752, that the Reformed Church, parsonage and School of Pápa were taken over, and the professors and students removed. They found refuge in the nearby church of Adásztevel. Later they were permitted to return to Pápa but the school was allowed to re-open only as a two year junior college. It was through the instigation of the Cardinal of Eger that neither the county nor the chancellery issued a permit for the College and Seminary. They refused to issue a permit on the grounds that there were schools located in Sárospatak and Debrecen for the students use. It was only after the Order of Tolerance that the Reformed Church was able to resume teaching on a college level. As the College grew and further developed, the financial undertaking became a burden for the Pápa Church, so in 1797, the Reformed Diocese of Dunántúl took over the school. Under the auspices of the Diocese, the present main building was raised, while the old building was used as a dormitory. Along with the College and Seminary, a Teacher’s College was built (later taken over by the State) and a College for Women Teachers was founded. The inscription on the main building reads: “To God, Country and Sciences.” True to this inscription, this school, through its dedicated professors, has turned out many famous men for the country. The great Hungarian novelist, Jókai Mór and the poet, Sándor Petőfi were alumni of this school. Women Teacher’s College The coat-of-arms of the school bears a tree with the branches in the shape of Hungary before World War I. This very old and famous college was taken over by the State after World War II with the exception of the Seminary, which was ordered to close. Here lies the great College and Seminary of Pápa. John Makár
