Prakfalvi Endre: Roman Catholic Churches in Unified Budapest - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2003)

The Parish Church of the Sacred Heart, 1933

■ The nave with the chancel

ing the seven days of creation on the coffers of the ceiling formed by the beam-structure of the covering above the nave. The triumphal arch features Pál Pátzay’s flattened relief with the forceful and expressive figures of the twelve apostles. Framed in the front-side pylon is the recently restored St. Cecily window of the organ loft. (St. Cecily has been revered as the patron saint of music since the 15th century.)

The portal with its semi-circular arch is framed by a prism lying outside the front pylon. On its two sides behind, is the baptistery and the chapel of the country’s deceased heroes. On the altar of the latter is Pátzay’s Pietá. Surrounded by the twelve lambs alluding to the Evangelists of the portal vault is the chris- togram—the initials of Jesus's name in Greek—lesous Christous, Jesus the anointed—and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega indicating his unity with the Father. Above the entrance door there are the words of the Old-Testament Psalmist, Open to me the gates of righteousness; 1 will go into them, and I will praise the Lord (Psalms 118.19—Hymn of thanksgiving on the Feast of Tabernacles). This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. (Psalms 118.20). The verse prefigures the New Testament symbolism of the gate where Jesus says, "I am the door of the sheep... by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (Jn. 10.7-9). Tibor Gerevich,

52