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Religious life in Hungary

Hungary has been part of the Christian Europe for over a thousand years. Therefore our nation boasts a rich Christian heritage, which is also highlighted in the Fundamental Law of Hungary.

This is most of all the merit of our King Stephen I (reigned between 1001 and 1038), who dedicated our country and nation to the Holy Virgin for the first time in history. This has happened in several countries ever since, including Italy and Poland, but Hungary was the first. King Saint Stephen was a member of the Árpád dynasty. This dynasty gave 26 saints or beati to the world altogether, including: Elizabeth, Margaret, Kinga, Ladislaus, Imre etc., and is historically related to almost every royal family in Europe.

 

We have Judeo-Christian roots with regard to history and religion. And although the Catholic church is the largest at present, there are several Protestant churches as well, and the presence of the Jewish church is also considerable. Our country also boasts a lot of gems regarding the history of culture. Just to mention the most popular ones: the Basilica of Esztergom, Matthias Church of the Buda Castle, the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen, the Great Lutheran Church of Békéscsaba, the Dohány Street Synagogue (the largest synagogue in Europe) or the Jewish Synagogue of Kol Aryeh, Mád. And a few of the less popular ones: the churches of Velemér, Ják or Ócsa from the age of the Árpád dynasty, or the small churches on the Route of Medieval Churches with their beautiful wooden coffered ceilings: Csaroda, Nyírbátor etc.. We should also mention the Pannonhalma Archabbey (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Early Christian Graves in the city of Pécs, the Buda Castle District or our national places of worship: Mátraverebély-Szentkút, Máriapócs, with 8 pilgrimages throughout the country, including the Saint Martin European Cultural Route, the Hungarian Pilgrimage, the Way of Mary, the Footsteps of the Wonder Rabbis etc.

 

Hungary's religious diversity, with all the various destinations and sights, is unparalleled in the region. Apart from the above examples from the Judeo-Christian tradition, you can also find Muslim or even Hindu places of worship. All in all, no matter which direction a tourist may take in Hungary, sooner or later they will surely run into a religious sight that is worth taking a look at!

 

Upcoming important events: In 2021, Budapest will host the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress. In 2023, the city of Veszprém (in the Balaton region) will be the European Capital of Culture.

 

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