Romanian Orthodox believers in Budapest marked on Sunday the 125th anniversary of their parish’s establishment in the Hungarian capital, with a festive Divine Liturgy led by Bishop Siluan of Hungary.
Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included Hieromonk David Pop, Superior of the “Saint John the Baptist” Monastic Settlement; parish priest Marius Maghiaru, dean of Budapest; priest Cosmin Pop, parish priest in Jaca and Dean of Debrecen; and Archdeacon Emanuel Văduva from the cathedral in Gyula.
His Grace presented a jubilee document to the Budapest parish, recording the main milestones in the Romanian community’s history in Budapest.
“We celebrated an important anniversary — 125 years since this independent parish, intended solely for the Orthodox Romanians here in Budapest, has been functioning in this building, which in 1900 was given by the Gojdu Foundation, as a result of the perseverance, the long labour and the ardent desire of the forebearers and leaders of this community,” Bishop Siluan said.
The celebration was attended by Gabriel Șopanda, Romania’s Ambassador to Budapest; Mioara Pituț, a senior collaborator at the Embassy; Szucs Balazs, Deputy Mayor of Budapest’s District 7; Gabriela Elekeș, President of the Association of Romanian Orthodox Women in Budapest; and parishioners.
“This is an important moment for the community, for the people who have come here and who have maintained this church — this living place of prayer — during troubled and difficult periods, both for Romanian buildings in Budapest and for Romanians in Hungary. But they have survived 125 years, and I am convinced they will continue without interruption in the future,” Romania’s Ambassador to Budapest said.
Budapest Romanian Parish
The Romanian parish, or the “Greek-Wallachian Church” in Budapest, was founded in 1791 by Orthodox Greek, Aromanian, and Romanian believers, who had their own place of worship.
The community was forced to leave its church in Petőfi Square in 1888 and continued its activities under harsh conditions.
After that stage, representatives of 44 families and the Romanian Orthodox youth in Hungary decided to establish the Romanian parish “Nativity of the Holy Prophet John the Baptist”, which continues to function today in a building offered by the Gojdu Foundation in 1900.
Since 2009, the parish also includes the Romanian Monastic Settlement of Nuns “Saint John the Baptist”.
Photo: Diocese of Hungary
