Calvin Synod Herald, 1995 (95. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1995-01-01 / 1. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 5 -REFOMflTÜSOK LAPJA Bishop Kálmán Csiha: "The Light Through The Bars" In Hungary, the "John Calvin" publishing hand of the Reformed Church of Hungary printed a Hungarian version of Transylvanian bishop Kálmán Csiha's book, Fény a Rácsokon. It is the story of the Bishop's six and a half years of imprisonment by the Romanian Communist regime. It is a unique publication with immortal poems. The English translation of the book is currently under printing procedures. The Light Through The Bars promises to be a sensational publication. The Light Through The Bars is the heartbreaking true story of Bishop Kálmán Csiha's six and a half years of imprisonment by the Romanian Communist regime during the Ceacescu era. It is a unique publication that contains many immortal poems. The book is the realistic and truthful description of the bishop's sufferings behind the prison bars of Kolozsvár, Marosvásárhely, Szamosujvár, Periprava, Salcea, Braila and Jilava. The text is enriched by the poems written behind the bars with unconquerable faith. The appendix presents forty of his glorious poems in perfect English poetic version. A few of these poems appeared in our former issues. "Tears, Years and Christmases Sail By" was printed in our previous Christmas issue, and to our great satisfaction was read in both English and original Hungarian in many of our churches, as we were already informed. He is one of our many modern age Bishop Csiha's Own Introduction to "The Light Through The Bars" My life was one of bars and of light. Of bars which had grown out of the ground, which a self-proclaimed-assole-savior ideology had carved by hate, self-interest, the selling of souls, and by the deceiving and terrorizing of trusting people. Of bars which, according the prepared molds of the East, not only sealed prison doors but which changed whole countries into prisons. Of bars whose calling was to grow with the passing of time through the souls of men, and make submissive prisoners even of those who moved freely. Of bars which penetrated into homes and with its everlengthening points pinned the gray-matter of the brain, and if needed, event the remaining shreds of the annihilated conscience. This was the world of the apocalyptic blood red horse, to whose "rider was given power to take peace from the earth and make men slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword," (Rev. 6:4) Everything which I record here was played out in the shadow of this great sword. But my life was also one of light. Of light which still shines back from the memories of a happy childhood. Of light which descended gift-like on a family whose faith was in God and in Jesus, the source of eternal life. Of light which during dark days moved into my soul inextricably and without resistance, and which made my poor and struggling years asayoung man worthwhile, shining through even the darkest of dense prison bars. The bars grew out of the ground and the light came from the sky. In it were sovereignty, power, pure goodness and eternally new strength; God was in it. In the world of bars it was this light which saved me, never letting the bars grow through my soul. And thus, although I am writing the story of my time spent in captivity, I must admit that I never truly "galley-slave" ministers, imprisoned for our faith in the Motherland and the successive states in the Carpathian Basin. It is our own duty to immortalize their immense tribulations in serving our Lord faithfully in spite of godless tyrants of the communistic past. The book will be printed on over 150 pages with an artistic outer cover with Raphael's "Light on the Prison Bars" depicting the angel in a burst of light aboutto unchain the imprisoned apostle Pete r. The price per copy will be $8.00. Those interested in ordering greater numbers for churches and organizations should notify our Editor as soon as possible (definitely before the end of the Kossuth Memorial Year-March 20, 1995) In ordering 25 copies or more, the discount price will be $6.00 per copy. For further inspiration and information herewith, we are reprinting Bishop Csiha's own introducing words of his book. felt myself to be a captive; because it is not those who are locked behind bars that become captives, but those through whose soulsthe bars have grown. Never can those be made captive for whom there exists someone who is more powerful than any set of bars. It is Him they seek; and it is of His strength that they partake. This book wishes to do nothing more than proclaim His glory shining over and above these bars. □ The Apostle Paul said to the first century Christians: "You are a Royal Priesthood!" Tennyson said to Queen Victoria of the XIXth Century: "So loyal to the royal in thyself!" We say - in Christ's name - to Christians living at the time of the approaching new Millenium: "Be loyal to the royal in yourselves!"
