Magyar Egyház, 1964 (43. évfolyam, 3-9. szám)
1964-05-01 / 5. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ inseparably linked with the victory of the Calvinist Reformation? To these Calvinists in Holland, it was almost unthinkable that their Reformer should have been a Frenchman who lived most of his life as a stateless displaced person, as a refugee although he served as the pastor of the Geneva National Church. In Hungary also, Reformed people thought very similarly. How many times were the names of Calvin and Kossuth linked? The cherished name of the Hungarian rebellion against tyranny and for freedom, “kuruc,” is a synonym for Calvinist. It was a Dutch Calvinist, Abraham Kuyper who once said, “there is no other Reformed Church where the epithet Calvinist is more honored than in Hungary.” Those who attempt to keep in touch with the cultural developments of contemporary (let us not forget: Communist) Hungary will find a rather strong vindication of this statement today: many leading Hungarian writers, one after the other, refer to themselves proudly as “Calvinists.” They are not theologians; I doubt if they are actively connected with the church. Why do they then associate themselves with such an epithet in a Communiist society? There are many possible explanations but one thing is sure: they all agree that Hungarian Calvinism has always had a prophetic function in the life of the nation, it has always been a driving force in culture and society and the most sensitive channel between Hungary and the Western world. In this sense, they feel as if they were beneficiaries of the Hungarian Reformed tradition of the past and strangely as it may sound, “Calvinist” is a title of glorious and timehonored associations to them. The topic discussed in the few lines above has not been explored thoroughly yet and answered satisfactorily, but it shows definitely one important factor: Calvin’s name is known and cherished by Hungarian people. Let us ask how it was in the life-time of the reformer? Did Calvin know Hungarians? What did he know about Hungary? I. In Calvin’s days the scholars of all nations spoke one language: Latin. Academic life had been very international since the emergence of the medieval universities. When Calvin was a student in Paris many Hungarians were studying there and it is possible that Calvin’s first connections with Hungarians date back to his stay in the university. One of the greatest Calvin scholars, Doumergue was inclined to believe that this was so, but we have no absolute proof to verify it. In 1541, Calvin met the Hungarian delegation sent to the Holy Roman German Imperial Diet which was held in Regensburg, Germany. He was a part of the group of Protestant theologians who negotiated with a Roman Catholic deputation led by the reform-minded Cardinal Contarini. During his stay in Regensburg, Calvin reported regularly to his friends in Frenchspeaking Switzerland and in France about the discussions of theologians and the deliberations of the Imperial Diet. In many of his letters the situation in Hungary is described in great lenght. Calvin mentions that there is a Hungarian delegation in Regensburg, asking arms and soldiers to resist the Turks who had already occupied most of their country. Calvin’s concern with the fate of Hungary is touching! I think Calvin is at his best as a compassionate pastor of souls. From his correspondence, you can hear his heart crying out for suffering fellow-men. He has never been in Hungary, but he makes a painstaking study of the Hungarian situation and reports almost every day to his friends Farel and Viret about the Turks, the sufferings of the Hungarian people and the prospects of a Reformation in the church. The Hungarian delegation was led by an Archbishop, whose chancellor and other officials had already gone over to the side of the Reformation. We know that several members of the Hungarian delegation had been old friends of Protestant theologians in Calvin’s company. Unfortunately, there is no report of such a meeting between Calvin and the Hungarians, but it is certain that Calvin did meet Hungarians of both the Roman Catholic and Evangelical camp during his stay in Regensburg for the first time. (To be continued) Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Hungarian Reformed Church of Detroit was held May 24. There will also be a parish house and an educational building. Capacity of the sanctuary and of the hall will be 600 each and there will be room for 350 children. The new church will be located in Allen Park. Architect is James B. Morison, contractor the Maurice V. Rogers Co. Total cost will run about $500,000. Május 24-én tartották az uj detroiti templom, társadalmi helyiség és iskola kapavágási ünnepét. Az épület Allen Park-ban lesz. A templom és társadalmi helyiség befogadóképessége 600 személy, az iskolában 350 gyermek helyezhető el. A terveket James B. Morison építészmérnök készítette, építész a Maurice V. Rogers Co. Az épitkezés költsége kereken félmillió dollár.
