Regnum Marianum [antikvár]

athousandyears of christianity in hungaryIn the Century following the Magyar Conquest (895-96 AD) the Hungárián tribes who settled in the Carpathian Basin found themselves in a Europe based on Christianity in both !bini and content. East or West? This was the big question thai had to be faced by all of the peoples from the East who migrated into the European heartland. The fate and future ofthem all depended on the correct response. Even after they reached Europe, the Huns, Avars. Pechenegs, the Uz and the Kuns were unable to break away from the steppes of Asia. Their fate was complete disintegration and dispersion, while the peoples who carne within the sphere of interest of Eastem Byzantium became Slavonized. Prince Géza (970-997), like Árpád before him who led the Magyar Conquest, looked to the West. He made a final break with the Eastern European culture that wasideclining parallel with the growth of Russian power and the Slavonization of the Bulgarians. and turnéd away from the Byzantine-Greek-Slav church. Prince Géza who initiated the spread of Latin Christianity was himself baptized. Although he probably lived with half his heart stili in the world of heathen beliefs. and barbarie means were used for the conversion, he laid the first foundalion stones of an independenl. Christian Hungary enjoying respect in Europe. He had his five-year-old son. whose heathen name was Vajk. baptized. With the bapiism the child was given the name of Saint Stephen the Martyr, the patron saint of the diocese of Passau. Düring the thirty-eight years of his reign ( 1000-1038). King Stephen (István), who was canonized in 1083. created the Organization of the Hungárián state and church. The achievement of Saint Stephen integrated Hungary into the Western Christian world and made the country part of Europe. His accomplishment lived on Ihrough the centuries of Hungárián history. It remained a spiritual value for all subséquent générations and ages, for ail social systems. Saint Stephen is Hungary's national saint, although his cuit is not linked solely to the Hungárián peoplç but is shared by ali the Christian peoples of the Carpathian Basin. The Hungárián synod of 1092 listed his dévotion among the 32 nationally compulsory feast days, only nine years after his canonization. He was regarded as the prevailing Augustinian ideal, as the just, pious and peace-loving king (rex iustus, pius, et pacificas). The most colourful legend of King Stephen the Sainun expansion of other legends, was written by Bishop Hartvik for King Colman (1085-1116). One of the episodes in the Hartvik legend gave rise to the fine ideal of Patrona Hungáriáé, the Patron Lady of the Hungarians. As King Stephen prepared for his death, he raised his hands and eyes to the stars and cried out: "Queen of the heavens, great reorganizer of this world, in my last prayers I commit the holy church with the bishops and priests. the country with the people and the lords, to your protection ".mdLi/