Fraternity-Testvériség, 1978 (56. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1978-07-01 / 3. szám
BISHOP ÁRPÁD L. BERETZ: DR. JOSEPH ÁRVAI-ZSIROS, Rector Magnificus The prophet Micah speaks these words only to those who have a covenant relationship with God: “He has showed you, 0 Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) The life and work of Joseph Arvai-Zsiros give flesh and blood to these words of Micah. A young lad in a small village Hernádszentandrás in the County of Abaúj, Hungary is stirred by the Call of God in his heart: Go and serve. The dream of a poor peasant boy becomes a reality. He enrolls in the School of the Poor (Sárospatak) as a first year student — a “pecúr.” Rarely, did the school at Patak have a more distinguished scholar. In all his academic pursuits he was Summa Cum Laude. He was fascinated by languages. This love of language led him into the study of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arab and Egyptian, German, English and Sumerian. The country boy from Abaúj was now a full fledged linguist of the first rank. Yet, there was always the search for the roots of his own identity and that of his people. The Sárospatak School of Theology called him to be Professor of New Testament and Greek, a chair for which he prepared diligently and with great distinction. But a change in personnel policy vetoed this call and he was offered instead the chair in Hebrew and Old Testament. He accepted the challenge. He received his doctorate in Old Testament from the brilliant Professor of the University of Debrecen, Professor Kálmán Kállai. In Sárospatak he married Irén Balsai also from Sárospatak. He found in her not only a helpmate but more importantly a soul-mate. God did not bless them with children of their own, but he made them “parentes in loco” for hundreds of students among whom I am most fortunate to be one and have benefited from their loving kindness and later even my eldest daughter, Julie, received from them love and care at Hope College, in Holland, Michigan. Józsi bácsi and Irénke néni are two humble servants of our Lord Jesus Christ who wanted only to be found faithful in their life and work. It was these two humble and devout servants that God called away from their quiet and simple lives to do extraordinary things in extra-ordinary times. The small country boy studied in the great school of Sárospatak; he became one of its most respected professors; he was Rector Magnificus of the College. World War II had reached the Carpathian Mountains. The soul of a nation was being tested, the beloved Alma Mater was in mortal danger and the future was dark. It was in such a time that Joseph Arvai-Zsiros was called to be President of the College of Sárospatak. The Alma Mater entrusted to the boy from Abaúj its past and its future. And the Alma Mater chose the right man. This man of humility became a man of action. A formidable foe to any who would seek to destroy the work and purpose of his school; a source of great moral strength to church and community and above all to the faculty and the student body. As he had stood fast against the Nazi SS, so he took his stand against the Red NKVD. He was beaten by the Nazi’s for publically entering the ransacked Synagogue in Sárospatak in order to rescue the Holy Scrolls from destruction. And then he was beaten by the NKVD for publically professing his faith in God and defying edicts that enslaved his people. If the story had ended here it would have been a life enough for any man. But God had more for this man to do. The sister college of Hope College in Holland, Michigan called him to teach — Greek. At long last God granted him his wish to teach his first love. But in a new land and a new college. When he was offered the Chairmanship of the Classical Department of Languages at Hope College, he respectfully declined saying he already had more than enough titles. Add to his academic distinctions, his work as pastor in large and small congregations in America and we have before us a portrait of a man who obeyed God. For him, the words of Micah: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God, was a ivay of life. We agree with Joseph Arvai-Zsiros that the glory belongs to God alone. But our love, our gratitude, our appreciation of Józsi bácsi and Irénke néni is ours to remember and to cherish all the days of our (Presentation Address by Bishop Arpad L. Beretz given at the Testimonial Dinner honoring Professor Dr. Joseph Arvai-Zsiros on April 17, 1978 at the 40th Annual Meeting of Calvin Synod Conference, Ligonier, Pennsylvania.) lives. 4
