Bukovszky László (szerk.): Egy régió története a XI. századtól 1945-ig. Mátyusföld - Lokális és regionális monográfiák 4. (Komárom-Dunaszerdahely, 2005)

Helynévmutató

ral societies and extra curricular activities (educational lectures, read a paper activities etc.)- Next to cultural associations the sports clubs, which were founded in the beginning of the 20"’ century, played an important role in the history of the region’ culture. Football was really popular at that time. This is proved by the fact that the Association of Hungarian Physical Education Masters in Czechoslovakia had sixteen member clubs in 1933, which played in the championship of Bratislava District and Southern District. The development of the printed press is another important part of the region’s cultural history that appeared in the 19"' century. These regional papers appeared the first time in Gaianta ( Galántha és Vidéke - Galanta and its Surroundings - 1892) then in Šaľa (Vágsellye és Vidéke - Šaľa and its Surroundings - 1907) and in Sered’ (Közvélemény - Public Opinion - 1912). The progress of elementary education, which was regularized by Maria Theresa nationwidely in the 18" century, greatly impacted on the ordinary people’s erudition. Although in the Middle Ages there appeared some parochial schools in bigger settlements and the period of Reformation and Counter-Reformation influenced positively the folks' schools, their organized composition was started only in the first half of the 18”’ century. The Ratio Educationis tried to crate a united school system for the first time and tried to have it under national control. As a result of demands and intentions in the field of education in 1848 there was born an act about public education in 1868, which defined the categories of public state schools, communal schools, denominational schools and private schools. Among the schools organized according to the above mentioned act the denominational schools had the largest number in this region. The most special place was taken by the eleven Hebrew public schools (Diakovce, Galanta, Vlčany, Horné Saliby, Jel'ka, Sládkovičovo, Tešedľkovo, Senec, Sered', Šaľa) with their peculiarity, that could be preserved until the Holocaust.

The population of Mátyusföld in the period before embracing Christianity lived according to pagan customs. But then again the first real Christian relics of the region occurred by the excavations of graves from the end of 10" century. After embracing Christianity parochially the territory belonged to the Archbishopric of Esztergom, founded by King István I in 1001.From the 12" century the territory belonged to Nitra and Bratislava Deanery. The written records mentioned the first churches and parishes in the 12" century. But the present stage of parish system in Mátyusföld had already been developed in the following two centuries (13®, 14th).Derived from the advowson the selection of secular and sacred patrons can be connected with the Cult of Mary and partly with the Cuit of Árpád Dynasty Saints as well .In the beginning of the 16" century thanks to the Counter-Reformation the catholic church lost from his power in Mátyusföld. But after the elimination of the Turks there started the strengthening of the Catholic Church. In the second half of the 18"' century under the reign of Maria Theresa .then her son Joseph II the ecclesiastical matters were reorganized ,due to that more subsidiary Churches became independent parishes .In more places the patron (i.e. earl Ferenc Esterházy, chancellor )gave some financial support and this way new churches were built. Because of the area’s geographical location the people of Mátyusföld could learn the precepts of the Reformation among the firsts. The main backer of the Reformation in Mátyusföld was Thurzó Elek ,the Lord Chief Justice, the proprietor of the lordship in Šintava.

Until the middle of the 16’" century the region became fully Protestant. In Mátyusföld the Lutheran and Calvinist line of Protestantism did not part either at the very beginning. The parting itself happened in 1592 at the synod in Galanta. During the Counter- Reformation the magnates, who became Catholic, ousted the Protestant preachers from their estates and occupied Protestants churches, that had been used there before. The

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