Vitrail des armoiries de la Cité de Debrecen en Hongrie
Zones où les protestants forment la confession religieuse majoritaire en Hongrie (hachuré) • Nous voyons un assez vaste territoire autour de Debrecen où la population est principalement réformée • Les deux petites poches dans l’Ouest sont des enclaves de luthériens germanophones
Voici quelques faits fascinants que j’ai découvert à propos de Debrecen, la seconde ville de Hongrie (avec une population d’environ 200 000 habitants), en naviguant dans le livret virtuel produit par l’Église réformée hongroise intitulé Debrecen : Cité de la Réformation, enrichis de renseignements venant d’autres sources…
⇒ Depuis bientôt cinq siècles, en Europe centrale, grâce au rayonnement spirituel et intellectuel de ses ateliers d’imprimerie et du Collège réformé de Debrecen fondé en 1538, cette cité est officieusement surnommée la « Genève hongroise » (Magyar Genf) ou la « Rome calviniste » (Kálvinista Róma). Depuis lors, cette institution d’enseignement supérieur est devenue à la fois {1} l’Université de Debrecen inaugurée en 1912 et {2} l’Académie théologique réformée organisée en 1949 et transformée en l’Université de théologie réformée de Debrecen en 1989. La bibliothèque commune desservant ces centres de formation est la deuxième plus volumineuse dans toute la Hongrie.
⇒ C’est dans le plus imposant lieu de culte de cette ville, la Grande église réformée (voir photographies ci-dessous) – maintes fois démolie mais toujours rebâtie – que s’est tenu le Synode de Debrecen le 24 février 1567, lors duquel les représentants de l’Église réformée hongroise adoptèrent la Confession de foi helvétique postérieure rédigée par le réformateur Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) et le Catéchisme de Heidelberg édité par les réformateurs Caspar Olevianus (1536-1587) et Zacharias Ursinus (1534-1583), consolidant ainsi la prédominance calviniste dans le protestantisme hongrois. Plus récemment, c’est dans cet édifice patrimonial, aussi appelé le Grand temple protestant, que s’est réunie la 23ème Assemblée générale de l’Alliance réformée mondiale (ARM) en 1997 ; l’ARM regroupait alors plus de 215 dénominations calvinistes représentant ensemble environ 75 millions de chrétiens sur la Terre.
⇒ Les Habsbourg d’Autriche – le fer de lance de la Contre-Réforme catholique en Europe et le principal obstacle à l’autodétermination nationale hongroise de 1683 jusqu’à 1913 – appelaient péjorativement la foi réformée le « crédo magyar » ! (Le terme magyar est le nom de la langue hongroise, et par extension, il est parfois utilisé pour désigner les Hongrois eux-mêmes.) Pour se remettre en contexte historique, on estime que dans la seconde moitié du XVIème siècle et la première moitié du XVIIème, dans l’ensemble des régions couvertes par l’ancien Royaume de Hongrie médiéval, environ 40 % de la population totale était réformée, environ 25 % de la population totale était luthérienne (les Saxons & Souabes germanophones dans leurs colonies-bourgades dispersées ainsi que les Slovaques de Haute-Hongrie), 5 % de la population était unitarienne (une tranche des Hongrois de Transylvanie), 15 % de la population était pseudo-orthodoxe (les Valaques & Moldaves roumanophones), et seul un maigre 15 % était catholique romaine (minoritaires partout sauf en régions croates !) ; ; dans la Principauté de Transylvanie, 92 % des membres de la Chambre-Haute du Parlement nobiliaire étaient protestants ; tout cela selon le Musée protestant, l’Encyclopédie Universalis et Philip Benedict, Cambridge History of Christianity, Vol. 6, p. 125-129. En outre, selon le Musée international de la Réforme, avant que le rouleau compresseur de la Contre-Réforme ne s’abatte sur le peuple hongrois dans la seconde moitié du XVIIème siècle et la première moitié du XVIIIème, jusqu’à 80 % de la population ethnique hongroise était réformée ! Ce sont les assauts conjugués des Habsbourg papistes et des Turcs islamistes – combinés à l’immigration intensive d’Allemands/Autrichiens papistes et de Roumains pseudo-orthodoxes dans les régions hongroises dépeuplées par les Ottomans – qui ont graduellement inversé ce rapport de force en défaveur des protestants. Aujourd’hui, dans la Hongrie tronquée (mais davantage ethniquement homogène), les réformés constituent autour de 20 % de la population, les luthériens approximativement 5 %, les pseudo-orthodoxes un maigre 2 % et les catholiques un peu plus de 50 %.
⇒ C’est également dans la Grande église réformée de Debrecen que fut promulguée la Déclaration d’indépendance de la Hongrie, le 14 avril 1849, par Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894), un politicien Hongrois luthérien, immédiatement après son adoption unanime par l’Assemblée nationale de la Hongrie le jour même.
La Grande église réformée de Debrecen (vue extérieure)
La Grande église réformée de Debrecen (vue intérieure)
L’Université de Debrecen (de jour)
L’Université de Debrecen (de soir)
Vitraux de János Kálvin flanqué de deux magistrats protestants importants dans l’histoire hongroise à l’Université de Debrecen • Notre Jean Calvin magyarisé a donné son nom à au-delà d’un millier de toponymes en Hongrie, incluant une « Place Kálvin » à Debrecen et une autre à Budapest
{Revue géographique de l’Est} Peuplement hongrois dans le Bassin des Carpates vers 1500
{Atlas des peuples d’Europe centrale} Écrasée par les Turcs djihadistes à la Bataille de Mohács (29 août 1526), la Hongrie fut – deux siècles durant (c.1526-1699) – scindée en trois États : Hongrie autrichienne, Hongrie ottomane et Principauté de Transylvanie • À son apogée (c.1570-1648), cette dernière débordait largement les frontières de la région transylvaine et couvrait l’Est des actuelles Slovaquie et Hongrie (incluant Debrecen), ainsi que la Subcarpatie (présentement située dans l’extrême-ouest de l’Ukraine) et l’Est du Banat • Cela explique le surnom de « Royaume de Hongrie orientale » donné à cette Principauté de Transylvanie
{Église réformée hongroise} Communauté hongroise réformée dans le Bassin des Carpates aujourd’hui
Le Pays sicule – une région maintenant enclavée au milieu de la Roumanie – formait traditionnellement le « bastion oriental » de la civilisation hongroise • En général, les habitants de la moitié Ouest du Pays sicule sont protestants calvinistes, tandis que ceux de la moitié Est sont catholiques romains • Les Sicules peuvent voter aux élections en Hongrie
Panneau arborant une variante simplifiée des armoiries de Debrecen pendant les festivités du 500ème anniversaire du déclenchement de la Réformation protestante en 2017
Plaque commémorative du réformateur suisse-allemand Ulrich Zwingli (1584-1531) et du réformateur français Jean Calvin (1509-1564) dans la vieille ville de Debrecen
Ressources supplémentaires – Histoire
- L’inspiration française dans le protestantisme hongrois # 1 | # 2 | # 3 [Lajos Rácz]
- La Réformation en Hongrie et en Transylvanie [Le Monarchomaque]
- Calvinist Rome, Christian Respublica, Hungarian Geneva – Why Debrecen ? [Museum of the Reformed College of Debrecen]
Ressources supplémentaires – Actualité
- Des écoles publiques laïques converties en écoles paroissiales chrétiennes en Hongrie [La Lumière du Monde]
- Discours du Premier ministre Viktor Orbán à l’événement national de commémoration du 500ème anniversaire du début de la Réforme [La Lumière du Monde]
- Théonomie appliquée : la “Loi Fondamentale” de Hongrie [Le Monarchomaque]
- La Hongrie prête à accueillir les vrais réfugiés (Allemands, Néerlandais, Français, Italiens, etc.) [Novopress Info]
- Quand des Français fuient les étrangers en émigrant en Hongrie [Fdesouche]
- Ces Allemands qui s’installent en Hongrie car leur pays accueille trop de “migrants” [France Info TV]
- Hongrie – Boom de naissances : “pas besoin des migrants” [France Info TV | idem en Pologne]
- “Make Families Great Again” : Hungary Seeing More Babies, Fewer Abortions through Pro-Family Policies [Christian Post]
Ressources supplément. – Géopolitique
- La Hongrie, premier pays à protéger officiellement les chrétiens persécutés [L’Observateur chrétien]
- La Hongrie veut devenir un pôle de lutte contre la persécution des chrétiens [Visegrád Post]
- La Hongrie organise la première conférence gouvernementale d’aide aux chrétiens persécutés [Visegrád Post]
- Orban et Poutine s’entendent pour la défense des chrétiens et de la civilisation chrétienne dans le monde [Médias Presse Info]
- Union européenne : La Pologne et la Hongrie s’opposent courageusement aux “droits” LGBTIQ [Avenir de la Culture]
{Encyclopédie Universalis} Carte économique de la Hongrie aujourd’hui • Debrecen est située dans l’Est du pays, à l’intérieur de la « Grande Plaine » (Alföld), en région agricole
Les quatre pays formant le Groupe de Visegrád (V4) : Hongrie, Slovaquie, Tchéquie et Pologne • Le V4 est une alliance d’États-nations d’Europe centrale ayant pour objectif la promotion de leurs intérêts communs, tels le maintient de leur souveraineté politique, la sauvegarde de leur sécurité territoriale, la défense de leur identité chrétienne, la régulation non-anarchique de l’immigration, la coordination du commerce international, etc. • Ainsi, par la grâce providentielle de l’Éternel, Debrecen peut avoir une influence bénéfique sur la Hongrie, qui peut avoir une influence bénéfique dans le Groupe de Visegrád, qui peut avoir une influence bénéfique dans l’Union européenne • Donc même si elle est topographiquement sise au milieu d’une plaine, Debrecen est spirituellement « une ville située sur une montagne [qui] ne peut pas être cachée » (Matthieu 5:42)
Le Monarchomaque 
Institutions | Reformed Church in Hungary
The Reformed Church in Hungary fulfills its mission through maintaining certain institutions that serve not only their local communities, but people nationwide. For example, the Reformed educational institutions, since their foundations, have been widely recognised both within and beyond the country’s borders for their dedication to Christian values. The Bethesda Children’s Hospital has been known for its philosophy, which considers up-to-date technology and the spiritual welfare of young patients vitally important.
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Bethesda Children’s Hospital | Reformed Church in Hungary
The Bethesda Children’s Hospital is one of the oldest children’s hospitals in Budapest, and the only Christian children’s hospital in Central and Eastern Europe. The German Filia of the Reformed Church founded the institute 142 years ago. The Philadelphia Deaconess Mother House oversaw the facility for decades, until 1938.
The Bethesda Hospital was nationalised, like other church institutions, and was used for forty years by the state. In 1992, it was transferred back to the Reformed Church in Hungary.
The healing community of the hospital intends to emphasise spirituality and professional skills, as well as the importance of modern technical facilities.
The hospital admits children (0-18 years) from the capitol, but also from across Hungary. The hospital cares for socially disadvantaged and physically handicapped children and their families.
The hospital can provide a variety of medical care within the field of paediatrics. Neurology, pulmonology and allergology are the areas that have particular importance, because they cover the most frequently occurring modern illnesses.
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Educational Institutions | Reformed Church in Hungary
The Reformed Church in Hungary maintains a number of Reformed educational institutions. These schools aim to make their students well-educated, creative Hungarian citizens with a strong Christian character and respect for universal and national values.
Reformed students are raised to be confessors of their own faith and faithful members of their congregations; non-Reformed students are taught to be loyal to their own denominations and to respect Reformed values. The realisation of these objectives is based on the religious heritage and pedagogical experience of the Reformed church schools accumulated through the centuries, with the aim of continuing this tradition and further developing its achievements in the future.
In as early as 1990, laws were passed to make it possible for churches (and also church foundations, business organisations and private individuals) to participate in the activity of education along with state and local government institutions. The number of institutions run by churches has grown from year to year.
In the 2011/12 school year, there were 129 Reformed educational institutions operating in 206 educational fields. These institutions are the following:
— 47 nurseries
— 76 primary schools
— 28 high schools
— 8 secondary vocational schools
— 3 vocational schools
— 14 art schools
— 6 special educational institutions
— 21 student hostels
— 2 pedagogical specialised services
— 1 pedagogical professional services
— 4 higher education institutions (out of which the Károli Gáspár Reformed University has 4 faculties).
In the public and local government schools, Reformed religious education has been in progress for many years.
Reformed education is supported by the following organisations:
— The Synod Education Office
— The Reformed Pedagogical Institute
— The United Reformed Pedagogical Professional Service
— The Reformed Talent Foundation
— The Student Sport Association of Reformed Schools
— The National Reformed Teachers’ Union
Theological Seminaries of the RCH:
Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary (KRE)
The Theological Academy of Budapest was established by Gábor Báthory on 10 October 1855, in the church at Kálvin Square. This institution is considered the ancestor of present day Károli Gáspár University of the RCH. Up until then, ministerial training took place in Kecskemét, but in 1855 it was transferred to Pest. On 1 July 1990, the Academy became a university. The aim and task of KRE is to follow the great traditions of Reformed colleges (Sárospatak, Pápa, Debrecen, Nagyenyed, Kolozsvár) and enable training in many fields of science besides ministerial training.
Reformed Theological Academy of Pápa (PRTA)
The Reformed Theological Academy of Pápa (PRTA) is a ministerial training institution in the Transdanubian Reformed Church District (Dunántúl). It consists of two departments: Reformed Theology and Catechism Education. In the Department of Reformed Theology, students can choose between ministerial (12 semesters) and theological (10 semesters) majors. The Catechism Education Department functions within the confines of the University of Kaposvár and the University of West Hungary.
Reformed Theological Academy of Sárospatak (SRTA)
A protestant school was established in Sárospatak in the 1530s. After this, the institution soon started to specialise in theological training. After a change of regime in 1989, the Reformed College Foundation of Sárospatak was registered to support the reborn College. The Theological Academy was reorganised, and in October 1991, after 40 years of forced hiatus, the Academy restarted its work with 49 students. Soon after, it became a state-recognised theological college. The Academy looks back on its 480-year history with pride.
Debrecen Reformed Theological University (DRHE)
The Debrecen Reformed Theological University is the successor of the Debrecen Reformed College, which was founded in 1538. The University is one of the Hungarian centers for Protestant theological training with a major interest in training ministers for the Reformed Church in Hungary. In September 2011, the Ferenc Kölcsey Teacher Training College of the Reformed Church was incorporated into the University. The DRHE consists of Theological, Theological-Minister, Catechist-Minister and Catechism Teacher departments.
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Diaconal Institutions | Reformed Church in Hungary
The diaconal services of the Reformed Church in Hungary are currently done in 509 fields, supporting approximately 35 000 individuals. The dedicated diaconal workers believe they have a calling in their own special fields, and they do their sacrificial work in faith that they can provide a better quality of life for groups and individuals in need. Statistics show that the demand for these services is great, but the number of institutions providing help is very small at present.
Diaconal Work in Numbers :
Service to the Elderly
We assist 28 677 elderly people, out of which 3836 are placed in 80 nursing homes.
Our services include the following :
• Temporary care in six institutions (82 available accommodations)
• Day care for 2,835 people
• 75 meal services for 5,000 people
• 120 home care services for 15,877 people
• Signaling system for 675 people (7 services)
Service to the Mentally Ill
We support 3100 individuals in this field :
• 893 mentally ill people are placed in five homes as well as two temporary homes
• 17 day care centres hosting 592 people
• 38 support services are in operation helping 1445 people
Service to the Homeless
• We provide 900 homeless people with help in two temporary homes and three day care institutes (219 maintained by church)
Service to Psychiatric Patients
• Assist 700 psychiatric patients
• 191 available community care services
Placement is provided in five homes and nine basic care providing institutes.
• 254 residential homes and
• 255 day care centres
Service to Addicts
• We provide help to 530 addicts with help
• 130 available community services
Placement is provided in two homes and eight basic care providing institutes.
• 83 residential homes
• 150 day care centres
Family Services
• Our family support service helps 507 individuals
Child Services
• Our child welfare service supports approximately 150 families
• 768 Reformed foster parents work in our foster parent network programme
• Room for 1525 children in this programme
• We operate five mothers’ homes
• Approx. 170 mothers and children are have been placed
• 310 children placed in 21 family day care centres
• 197 children placed in five nurseries
Service in the Countryside
• Our village and farmstead caretaker services (17 people) support individuals and communities in need.
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Conference Centres | Reformed Church in Hungary
Conference Centre ot the Theological Seminary of the Danubian Reformed Church – District of Budapest
Ráday Street, the location of our conference centre, is one of the main attractions of Budapest, a colourful area with numerous bars and restaurants, leading to Kálvin square, in the very heart of downtown Budapest. It is easy to reach by underground from any of the railway or bus stations. The centre is owned and managed by the Dunamellék Church District of the Reformed Church in Hungary. The same building houses the Theological Faculty of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University, the Bishop’s Office, the Bible Museum and a Theological Library. The Conference Centre provided the venue for one of the CPCE (Community of Protestant Churches in Europe) General Assemblies and one Assembly of the Lausanne Conference.
Conference Center of Danubian Reformed Church – District of Mátraháza
This entertainment and conference centre is located 80 km from Budapest. The complex is surrounded by woods and has recently been renovated. It contains accommodations for a total of 65 people, as well as a conference room suitable for 100 people. The complex is fully equipped with Wi-Fi connection, sound system, organ, kitchen and dining room.
Soli Deo Gloria (SDG) Conference Centre in Balatonszárszó
Located on the southern coast of Lake Balaton, the conference centre consists of a youth hostel for 120 people and a hotel with 65 rooms. The largest conference room is suitable fora maximum of 350 people, but the centre has several smaller rooms as well. Well-equipped with laptops, scanners, a copy- and fax-machine, DVD- player and sound system, this complex is an ideal place for large conferences.
Megbékélés Háza (House of Reconciliation) – Reformed Conference Centre
Located in a tranquil holiday village with good infrastructure, Berekfürdő is ideal for professional conferences. The centre is surrounded by a park that all ages can enjoy. The conference rooms are well equipped with sound system and everything required for great presentations. The main conference room holds up to 100 people. The chairs are fitted with fold-down writing tables. Facilities are air-conditioned. For international conferences, an interpreter-cabin for two is provided.
The centre welcomes other denominations as well, from both within and beyond the borders of Hungary.
Seven Stars Holiday and Conference Centre
The Seven Stars Holiday and Conference Centre is situated in Beregdaróc. The centre is in the neighbourhood of a Gothic church, which was built in the fourteenth century. The rooms with a gallery and the separated apartments have a unique industrial design and are furnished with the artwork of well-known industrial artists. The Centre tries to help with the reconstruction of the art relic churches with the income from our activities. Furthermore, they provide employment opportunities for the local population.
Mécses Központ – Candlelight Conference Centre of the Cistibiscan Reformed Church District
The Candlelight Conference Centre is situated on the shore of Lake Mályi, near Miskolc, in the North-East of Hungary. The Centre can host up to 120 people and it has a large conference room suitable for 80. The two small rooms are suitable for a maximum of 25 people. It is a perfect venue to organise professional trainings, conferences and camps. The Centre offers sports facilities and all technical equipment necessary for a conference.
Villa Silvestris – Forest School and Conference Centre
The Monoszló Forest School and Conference Centre is located in the old Calvinist primary school building that was recently renovated and extended to meet modern needs. The establishment offers ‘forest-school’ programmes to higher primary school students. Visitors have access to the lecture room of the School, fully equipped with modern audiovisual and IT facilities. The School offers accommodation in fifteen double rooms, all with en suite facilities. The students can learn about nature and forest life in an open-air ‘classroom’ and two nature trails. A modern kitchen and a restaurant are available for the comfort of visitors.
The Monoszló Forest School and Conference Centre is also available for adult training and further education programmes. The comfortable rooms, the untouched natural environment make it ideal for hosting small conferences, courses, company training projects, or for family weekends. The establishment also welcomes small national or international church events or conferences. The diverse natural surroundings, the proximity of Lake Balaton, the small vehicle traffic on the roads interconnecting the local villages also make the Forest School an ideal starting point for small groups of hikers or cyclists.
Being a very old village, Monoszló has many historic sites and buildings. The Calvinist church, the earliest building in the village whose foundations probably date from around the 10th or 11th century, features a Gothic apse and a restored Romanesque portal. Next door to the church is a historic Calvinist vicarage, built at the time of the Reformation in Hungary. In the churchyard stands a dogwood tree, a real botanical rarity in Hungary. It is known to have been there in the early 19th century. Its bright yellow flowers herald the spring in the cool microclimate of the Monoszló Basin.
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