With the establishment of the Hajdúdorog Archeparchy, another firm pillar of Christian Hungary has come into being, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated on Monday after signing an agreement with metropolitan archbishop Fülöp Kocsis in Debrecen.
The Prime Minister said: this is a significant achievement in the Europe which does not acknowledge its Christian past of two thousand years in its core foundation documents. „Hungary, however, proudly embraces this facet of its past, and this is why we committed the principle of the cohesive force of Christianity to our Fundamental Law. This is why we say that Hungary will be Christian or will not be a country at all, and this is why we welcome the new archeparchy as the archeparchy of the future”, Mr Orbán added.
The Prime Minister said that Christianity „with all its complexity and intricacy” forms an integral part of the history of the Hungarian people. The Hungarian people are a European people not because they belong to Europe geographically. „We are European because we are Christian”, he remarked, and added that a strong and successful Hungary can only be built on the foundations of these national, Christian and civic traditions.
There is a clear Hungarian historical experience which indicates that Hungary was only ever strong when it regarded the church as an ally, rather than an enemy of the State, the Prime Minister emphasised. Mr Orbán added that this is why it was important to create a new church law a few years ago, and this is why it was essential to conclude agreements with the churches which have played a significant role in the history of Hungary.
In reiterating the history of the Greek Catholic Church at the press conference, Viktor Orbán said that the church fought a long, hard and sometimes even desperate fight in order that it may address its followers in Hungarian. The Church has made a major contribution to Hungary’s spiritual and material advancement, and has played a significant role in the lives, education and culture of national minorities in Hungary, the Prime Minister stated.
„We believe it is our turn now to repay our grave historical debt with today’s agreement with a view to enabling Greek Catholic communities to continue their manifold service which helps the spiritual and intellectual revival of our nation and the entire Carpathian Basin”, the Prime Minister said, adding that it is to this end that the Government decided to award the funding that is necessary for launching the Hajdúdorog Archeparchy, and for stabilising its operations.
The grant contributes to the maintenance and intensification of good relations between the Greek Catholic Church, the Vatican and the Government of Hungary, and it equally reinforces the national and European identity of the Hungarian people, the Prime Minister said in closing his speech.
Fülöp Kocsis announced at the press conference that the local government granted the archeparchy the use of two buildings in Petőfi Square free of charge, and the Government will provide funding worth some HUF 2.3 billion for the refurbishment of the properties and the establishment of the organisational structure of the archeparchy.
The metropolitan archbishop reiterated that Pope Francis established three eparchies for the Greek Catholic Church on 20 March, and relocated the seat of the Hajdúdorog Archeparchy that so came into being to Debrecen.
The local government decided at its general meeting to grant the use of the buildings of the former Hatvani István Boarding College and the former Hotel Debrecen to the Church. Councillors voted for the relevant proposal unanimously, which was a particular joy for us, the metropolitan archbishop added.
Debrecen was pleased to acknowledge the appearance of Greek Catholics already a hundred years ago. Following the establishment of the eparchy in 1912, the first bishop relocated its seat to Debrecen, the archbishop reiterated. The seat of the eparchy was moved to Nyíregyháza in 1914 due to hostile assaults and a bomb attack.
The buildings will not only accommodate „dry” church offices; a Roma specialisation college and a spiritual health home will also be created, and a number of programmes will be organised for members of the church and the public, Fülöp Kocsis said. He added that the renovation of the dilapidated buildings will cost a great deal of money, and the government grant will help to finance these expenses.
(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)
