The votive church of Szeged [antikvár]

Years go by. We need to go back in time to Kinc) Satut Stephen. In 1030 Ke sends Bishop Gellert to the area of the Tisza and Maros region to control and start work in the newly formed diocese. The fírst milestone thus shows a date in time 975 years aback. The martyr death and canonization of Bishop Gellert, initiated by Kinc) Ladislaus, mark a decorous end to his exemplary life. Our next significant date goes back to 125 years ago. Szeged was destroyed by the Great Flood and in hope for reconstruction the leaders of the town took a vow to have a monumental new church built. Although the next date cannot be considered a jubilee year, the tragic Treaty of Trianon is certainly a noteworthy milestone; as a result of one of its stipulations, Dr. Gyula Glattfelder was expelled not only from his seat in Timi§oara (Temesvár) but alsó from the whole territory of Romania. He settled down in Szeged. The next stop was when 75 years ago the construction of the Votive Church was accomplished and the church was consecrated by the cardinal primate on 24th October in the presence of the Hungárián Catholic Bishops' Conference. Shortly afterwards, this church became the cathedral of the diocese. The Bishopric Palace, the Seminaiy and the College of Theology are all 75years old. In the same year, students could find accommodation in the dormitory named after Saint Emeric. It is rather instructive to look back into the past. What faith was needed to make people become good Christians, living in the area at that time! How much effort may have characterized the work of Saint Gellert! What a wonderful example did he provide for the love of the Hungárián people! How many good leaders and priests were shaped under his command! Is it not because of his work that we can still live here? We must recreate and preserve these values even today! The bishop of the diocese, who moved his seat to Szeged, was a fine match for our first bishop, Gellert. He set up parishes, created an intimate religious milieu, showed a personal care for university students; started the local education of priests, and attentively followed the countiy's internál atfairs. A similar enthusiastic religious devotion is needed in our diocese even today from our priests and believers as weil. Only a life rooted in Christian morals can bring us tranquility, jqyfulness and clear conscience. This book provides an insight into the works of the past. The construction work of the Votive Church took a very long time because of World War I and due to lack of money; however, this book provides a comprehensive view of the walls, the sculptures and the organ, and even of the recently created diy wall frescoes. We can alsó learn that there is active life in the church; in the Seminaiy and in the College of Theology, too. Dear Reader, when reading this book read not only with your eyes but alsó with your heart so as to find joy and experience spiritual recreation while holding it in your hands. Szeged, Christmas of the year 2004 Diocese Bishop of Szeged-Csanád