Calvin Synod Herald, 1995 (95. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1995-01-01 / 1. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 7 -REFOMÁTÜSOK LAPJA DR. JOSEPH PIRI 1914-1995 Dr. Joseph Piri Endrédi and kiskálnai Dr. Joseph Piri was born on the 16th day of August, 1914, at Pilismarót near Esztergom in Hungary. His father, Joseph, was a professional officer with the rank of Captain in the Hungarian Cavalry, died in action inside Russia on the tenth day of August, 1917. His mother's maiden name was Lidia Marossy. His family is one of ancient nobility on both sides. On his father's side it dates back to the year 1072 and on his mother's side to the year 1215. He was raised by his grandfather who was a landowner possessing lands consisting of 585 holds for cultivation and 41 holds of vineyard. He received his elementary education at Pilismarót, his secondary education at the Reformed Gimnázium in Budapest. He received a scholarship to Wittenberg College in Germany to study Church History under Professor Heusse, Church Historian. He completed his theological education at the Royal Stephen Tisza University in Debrecen, specializing in Church History. He continued his post-graduate studies at the Law School of the same University, in European International Law. He was Associate Professor of Church History atthe University to Dr. Imre Révész, and later succeeded him on the faculty. Dr. Piri had two doctoral degrees, one in Church History and the other in International Law. He lived in Buda through World War II. After the war he lost everything he possessed. The saddest loss of all was that in the aftermath of the war his family life was destroyed. In 1948 the rigid closing of the nation's borders made it impossible for them to escape together as afamily. He has two daughters in Hungary from his first wife. He left Hungary in 1948, migrating to Germany where Dr. Sándor Nagy assigned him to administer spiritual care to the Hungarian refugees at the camp in Dachau. In 1951 he migrated to the U.S. and settled in Cleveland where he had to start a new life. He married Maria Szabó, the widow of Paul Szász in the year of the Hungarian Freedom Fight of 1956. The span of his life in this city of Cleveland involved 43 years. He was an active member of the First Hungarian Reformed Church in Cleveland since 1951 where he served as Chief Elderfrom 1956-1984. He was an active lay member of the Calvin Synod for 30 years. For four terms (8 years) he was Lay Leader of the Governing Body of the Bishop's Council. He was Secretary of the Lakeside Classis of the Calvin Synod for 12 years and served for 15 years as Vice-President of the Cleveland United Hungarian Societies. He was a loyal member of the Magyar Club for decades. He had delivered more than 300 lectures on various topics, and had written numerous articles in different publications. He preached 850 sermons and participated frequently in the administration of Holy Communion throughout his career. He was a member of the Order of St. John which was organized in 900 A.D. whose members until 1950 were nobles. His father was a Marchese in the order and his grandfather, a member. The philanthropy of the St. John Order is the support of eight hospitals in Europe. Dr. Piri overcame the pain and tragedy of his early life by serving his God and Church in his new country. In his happily married new life here he lived in perfect harmony with Mária for the length of 38 years. The last two decades of married life was overshadowed by his wife's illness for whom he himself provided day and night nursing care with exemplary love and devotion. His wife died afortnight before the Christmas of 1 994. He attended her funeral at the church in a hospital wheelchair connected to an oxygenator. He himself entered into eternal life on the 2nd day of January, 1995 He who served the Lord faithfully will be rewarded by the Lord graciously! Mária Szabó Piri 1910-1994 □ Dr. József Piri 1914-1995 Alfa és Ómega kezdet és vég The Alpha and Omega □ Én vagyok az alfa és az ómega... Jel. 1.8 I am The Alpha and The Omega... Rév. 1.8
