Eastern Europe—1

This blog will discuss the Catholic Church in Hungary, Albania, and Romania. 

Hungary

Hungary became a nation when the Magyar leader, Arpad, conquered much of the region in the late 9th Century.  The Ottoman Turks defeated the Hungarians in 1526 and retained control of much of Hungary until 1699.  The Habsburgs conquered Hungary around 1700 and it became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the First World War.  Hungary was taken over by Communists after the Second World War who ruled until 1989.

Catholicism was introduced in Hungary during the days of the Roman Empire and many Magyars became Catholic in the 10th Century.  Arpad’s grandson, King (Saint) Stephen I, established the Church in Hungary in the early 11th Century.  The Protestant Reformation made many converts in the 16th Century, but the Muslim Ottomans discouraged Christianity in any form.  The Catholic Habsburgs reestablished Hungary’s Catholic heritage, which was later diminished by the Communists.

Hungary has 10 million people and between 40 and 60 percent are Catholic.  About 14 percent are Protestant and the rest profess no specific religion.  Hungary has four Roman-rite Catholic provinces—Eger, Esztergom-Budapest, Kalocsa-Kecskemet, and Veszprem.  There is also a Hungarian-rite Catholic province—Hajdudorog.  Hungarian-rite Catholics are about 8 percent of all Catholics in the country. 

As early as the 17th Century, some Hungarian Orthodox Christians had converted to Catholicism, and began using an Eastern-rite liturgy.  It was not until 1912 that this was formalized by Pope Pius X into an official Hungarian-rite Church.  There are some Hungarian-rite parishes in the United States and Canada under the jurisdiction of local Ruthenian-rite and Ukrainian-rite bishops.

Also in Hungary, a military diocese was established in 1994.  In addition, the Territorial Abbacy of Pannonhalma serves 21,000 Catholics in 15 parishes in the County of Győr-Moson-Sopron.  It was established in 997 and is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Abbey is dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, who is thought to have been born nearby.  The Abbey church was consecrated around 1224 and was built in a Gothic style.  Various renovations were done in various architectural styles so that now the church is more classicist.  The abbey was closed by Hungary’s Communist government in 1950, but reopened after the fall of communism in 1989.  Pope Pius XII named the Abbey church a minor basilica in 1942.

From Wikipedia.

Province of Esztergom-Budapest

The province consists of the civil counties of Budapest, Fejér, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Komárom-Esztergom, and part of Pest, in northwestern Hungary.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Esztergom was created in the 10th Century and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest in 1993.

The Cathedral and Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed into Heaven and St. Adalbert is in Esztergom.  Although it is referred to as a basilica, no pope has designated it as an official minor basilica.  It is the “mother church” of Catholicism in Hungary.  The first cathedral was completed in 1010, but burned in the late 1100s.  It was rebuilt in the 13th Century and after suffering damage during various wars, the Cathedral was essentially rebuilt in a neoclassical style between 1822 and 1869.  It is the largest church in Hungary (over 60,000 square feet) and the largest of its three domes has 12 windows.  The altarpiece depicting the Assumption is the largest painting in the world painted on a single piece of canvas.  The Bakocz Chapel was built in 1507 by Italian craftsmen using red marble—its walls are adorned with Tuscan Renaissance motifs.  The pipe organ dates to 1856 but is being upgraded.  Some of its stops come from a pipe organ played by Franz Liszt.  For those who read Hungarian, see www.bazilika-esztergom.hu.

The top picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral and Basilica of St. Stephen in Budapest was built between 1851 and 1905 in a neoclassical style.  It is named for St. Stephen—the first King of Hungary.  There are two bell towers with a large bell in one tower and five smaller bells in the other.  The dome rises 315 feet above the street.  The Basilica has many works of art including paintings, mosaics, and statues.  It is said that 50 types of marble were used in the various sculptures.  Pope Pius XI designated the co-cathedral a minor basilica in 1931—the first in Hungary.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Gyor was created in 1009.
• The Diocese of Szekesfehervar was created in 1777.

Province of Kalocsa-Kecskemet

The province consists of the civil counties of Baranya, Bács-Kiskun, Békés, Csongrád-Csanád, Tolna, and part of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, in southern Hungary.  The Archdiocese of Kalocsa was created in the 10th Century and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1135.  It was renamed Kalocsa-Kecskemet in 1993.

Assumption Cathedral in Kalocsa was built between 1735 and 1774 in a Baroque style.  The interior features pale pink and gilded stucco done by Italian artists and the altarpiece dedicated to the Assumption was by a Viennese artist.  There are several decorated chapels and stained glass windows depicting Hungarian saints.  Two bell towers hold a total of seven bells.  The pipe organ has 4,668 pipes and three manuals.

The first picture is from Flickr, the second from TripAdvisor, and the others from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of the Ascension of Our Lord in Kecskemet was built between 1774 and 1806 in a Baroque style.  The clock tower is topped by a cross that is 250 feet above the street.  The main altar and altarpiece are over 200 years old.  Peaches are a local crop and the cathedral has a Madonna with a peachy theme. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Pecs was created in 1009.
• The Diocese of Szeged-Csanad was created in 1035.

Province of Eger

The province consists of the civil counties of states of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hajdú-Bihar, Heves, Nógrád, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, and most of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Pest, in northeastern Hungary. The Diocese of Eger was created in the 10th Century and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1804.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, St. Michael and the Immaculate Conception, is in Eger.  The cathedral was built between 1831 and 1837 and has two bell towers and a highly decorated dome.  The façade is supported by 50 foot high Corinthian columns and has statues of St. Stephen, St. Ladislaus, St. Peter, and St. Paul.  These statues and others were done by Venetian artist, Marco Casagrande.  The interior is highly decorated and includes frescoes on the ceiling.  The pipe organ was built by Ludvig Moser of Salzburg in 1864.  Pope Paul VI designated the cathedral as a minor basilica in 1970.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Vac was created in 1004.
• The Diocese of Debrecen-Nyiregyhaza was created in 1993.

Province of Veszprem

The province consists of the civil counties of Somogy, Vas, Veszprém, and Zala, in western Hungary.  The Diocese of Veszprem was created in 1009 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1993.

St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Veszprem was built between 1380 and 1400 in a Gothic style.  The building was partially destroyed by the Turks and was restored in the 18th Century employing Romanesque and Gothic styles.  The Cathedral has stained glass windows depicting saints and has a barrel vaulted coffered wooden ceiling.  Blessed Gisela of Hungary, Queen of Stephen I, is buried in the Cathedral.  Pope John Paul II designated the cathedral as a minor basilica in 1981.

The top picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Szombathely was created in 1777.
• The Diocese of Kaposvar was created in 1993.

Hungarian-rite Province of Hajdudorog

The province consists of all of Hungarian-rite Catholics in Hungary, most of whom live in the eastern part of the country.  The Diocese of Hajdudorog was created in 1912 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hajdudorog in 2015.

The Cathedral of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple in Hajdudorog was built between 1764 and 1772 on the site of an older stone church.  The brick Baroque Revival Cathedral has been damaged and neglected over the years, but has been restored as recently as 2006.  The 158-foot Rococo steeple serves as both a bell and a clock tower.  The Cathedral’s most notable feature is an over 200-year old iconostasis that is 36 feet tall and 24 feet wide and holds 54 icons.  There are also seven 19th Century paintings and frescos on the ceiling.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Miskolc was created as an apostolic exarchy in 1924 and became a diocese in 2015.
• The Diocese of Nyiregyhaza was created in 2015.

Albania

Much of Albania became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th Century.  Albania declared independence from the Ottomans in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939, then taken over by Germany, and finally by the Communists in 1944.  Albania became a democracy in 1991.  Catholicism came to what is now Albania in Apostolic times and a diocese was established at least by the 4th Century.

Albania has 3 million people.  Muslims account for 57 percent of the people, Catholics for 12 percent, and Orthodox Christians for 7 percent.  Most Catholics live in northern Albania.  There are two Catholic provinces—Shkodre-Pult and Tirana-Durres.  Most Albanian Catholics belong to the Roman-rite, but 16,000 belong to the Albanian-rite Catholic Church.  They are served by the Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania.

The history of the Albanian-rite Catholic Church dates to 1628 when some Orthodox Christians in southern Albania converted to Catholicism.  Efforts to form a church were hampered first by the Ottoman Turks and later by the Communists.  Although the Albanian-rite Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania was created in 1939, Communist rulers generally refused to allow the Administration to operate.  Only since 1992 has the Administration had a bishop.

Province of Shkodre-Pult

The province consists of the northern third of Albania.  The Diocese of Shkodre was created in 345, became an archdiocese in 1867, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1886.  It acquired its current name in 2005.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Shkodre was built between 1858 and 1867 and is 243 feet long and 164 feet wide.  Before pews were installed, 6,000 people could stand inside.  The cathedral was damaged by an earthquake in 1905 and by a war with Montenegro in 1912-13.  The cathedral was closed by the Communist government from 1967 to 1990.  Albanian painter Kole Idromeno decorated the vaulted ceiling in 1909.

The top picture is from Flickr and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Sape was created in 1062.
• The Diocese of Lezhe was created in the 14th Century.

Province of Tirana-Durres

The province consists of the southern two-thirds of Albania.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durres was created in 1209 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tirana-Durres in 2005.

St. Paul’s Cathedral in Tirana is built in a modern style.  Pope John Paul II laid the cornerstone in 1993 and the building was completed in 2002.  The Cathedral is built in both a triangular and circular shape emphasizing the Holy Trinity and God’s Eternity.  There is stained glass window featuring Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.  A statue of St. Paul overlooks the entrance.

Pictures are from Flickr, Pinterest, and Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Lucia in Durres was built in 1909.  The cathedral has stone walls with arched windows and a wooden ceiling.  The church was used by its pastor for activities that led to Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.

The first two pictures are from a local tourist website and the last is from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Rreshen was created as a territorial abbacy in 1888 and became a diocese in 1996.
• The Albanian-rite Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania was created in 1939.

Romania

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia broke off from the Ottoman Empire in 1856 and became Romania.  A kingdom existed from 1881 to 1947.  Romania fought on the winning side in the First World War and claimed Transylvania as a result.  It fought on the losing side in the Second World War and was controlled by the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1989.  

Catholicism came to the region in the Third Century, but mostly disappeared due to barbarian invasions.  It was reintroduced in the 8th Century, but many of these Christians eventually became Orthodox.  Catholicism remained strong in Transylvania, because for many years it was part of Hungary.  The Protestant Reformation had some success and for hundreds of years, the status of each of the three religious traditions varied depending on the desires of the rulers of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania.  All religions suffered under Communist rule.

Romania has 21 million people and 82 percent are Orthodox Christians.  About 6 percent are Protestant and between 4 and 8 percent are Catholic.  About 70 percent of the Catholics are Roman-rite and are served by the dioceses of the Province of Bucharest and the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia.  Most of the others are Romanian-rite Catholics served by the dioceses of the Province of Fagaras si Alba Iulia.

The Romanian-rite Catholic Church split from Orthodox Christianity in 1697, 11 years after Romania had been conquered by the Holy Roman Empire.  After Communists took control of Romania in 1948, all Romanian-rite Catholics (who then numbered 1.5 million) were forced to join the Romanian Orthodox Church and all Romanian-rite properties were given to the Orthodox Church.  After the fall of the Romanian Communist regime in 1989, the Romanian-rite Catholic Church was restored.  Not all of its members returned.  Some remained Orthodox and others joined the Roman-rite Church.  Most Romanian-rite Catholics live in the northwestern part of Romania and are served by the Province of Fagaras si Alba Iulia.  About 6,000 live in the United States and Canada and are served by the Diocese of Saint George’s in Canton, Ohio. 

The Archdiocese of Alba Iulia serves Roman-rite Catholics in the central third of Romania and is immediately subject to the Pope.  It was established as the Diocese of Transylvania in 1009 before becoming an archdiocese in 1991.

St. Michael’s Cathedral in Alba Iulia is the oldest cathedral in Romania.  The cathedral is constructed on the foundation of an earlier cathedral destroyed by the Mongols in 1241.  The Romanesque and Gothic cathedral had barely been constructed when it was burned and pillaged by the Saxons in 1277.  It was rebuilt, but damaged by the Turks in 1439.  It was again rebuilt, but damaged in the 17th Century by successive invasions by Romania, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.  It was a Protestant church between 1565 and 1715, when it was returned to the Catholic Church.

The first four pictures are from the Archdiocesan website and the others are from Wikipedia.

Almost 600 Armenian-rite Catholics are served by the Ordinariate of Romania.  The Ordinariate was established in 1930 and is immediately subject to the Pope.  Holy Trinity Cathedral is in Gherla (Cluj).

Roman-rite Province of Bucharest

The Roman-rite province consists of all of Romania except for the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Valachie was established in 1648 and became an archdiocese in 1883.  It was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bucharest in 1930.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Bucharest was built between 1875 and 1883 using Romanesque and Gothic styles.  The brick and stone building has been damaged five times by earthquakes and by German and American bombing in 1944.  The white Carrara marble main altar was made in Rome.  Several decorative paintings adorn the walls.

The first two pictures are from the cathedral website, the next is from the Archdiocesan website, the next from Flickr, and the last from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Oradea Mare was created in 1077.
• The Diocese of Satu Mare was created in 1804.
• The Diocese of Iasi was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1818 and became a diocese in 1884.
• The Diocese of Timisoara was created as an apostolic administration in 1923 and became a diocese in 1930.

Romanian-Rite Province of Fagaras si Alba Iulia

The Romanian-rite province consists of central Romania.  The Archdiocese of Fagaras was created in 1721 became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fagaras si Albi Iulia in 1854.  This became a Major Archdiocese in 2005.  The archbishop is the spiritual leader of all Romanian-rite Catholics.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Blaj was designed in a Baroque style by Austrian architects.  It was built between 1741 and 1749.  The Cathedral was enlarged in 1838 and the two towers were added.  

The first picture is from Flickr and the rest from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Oradea Mare was created in 1777.
• The Diocese of Lugoj was created in 1853.
• The Diocese of Cluj-Gherla was created in 1853.
• The Diocese of Maramures was created in 1930.
• The Diocese of Sfantul Vasile cel Mare de Bucuresti was created in 2014.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates, apostolic administrations, and ordinariates.  All are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  A territorial abbey is a territory surrounding an abbey or monastery, in which the abbot serves as the bishop.

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  Eastern rite churches sometimes use different terminologies.  For example, a diocese might be called an eparchy and is led by an eparch.  A vicariate apostolic is called an exarchy and is led by an exarch. 

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.