Home
Saint Stephen, King of Hungary, Millennium of Birth Scott 513-514 (1971) The feast of Saint Stephen of Hungary is observed on August 16 on the liturgical calendar. His feast day in Hungary is celebrated on August 20. Magyar peoples settled in Hungary toward the end of the 9th century. The upper levels of society became at least nominal Christians. Stephen (Istvan or Stefan, ca. 975-1038) is responsible for uniting the Magyars into the Hungarian state. He was likely baptized, along with his father, by St. Adalbert (Vojttech, ca. 956-997). Adalbert was a missionary to various parts of Eastern Europe who was martyred for the faith in 997 (he is memorialized on stamps by Vatican City, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland, as well as Hungary).  Crown, Sword and Globus Cruciger of Hungary From Wikimedia Commons, used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license Stephen succeeded his father Geza as Duke of the Magyars (997), quelled noble opposition, and established Christianity as the official religion. Pope Sylvester II (ca. 946-1003) presented Stephen with the title of king and sent the famous crown topped with a cross set at an angle, which was used for Stephen’s 1001 coronation. This crown is now on display at the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest, with a 24-hour military guard of honor. The crown has a tumultuous history over the centuries after Stephen’s coronation. It was rescued by the U.S. 86th Infantry Division during World War II, eventually taken to Fort Knox in the U.S. for protection from seizure by the Soviet Union. St. Stephen’s crown was returned to Hungary in 1978. 
 Left: Basilica of Saint Stephen, Budapest, Hungary (photo by Marc Ryckaert) From Wikimedia Commons, used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license Right: Relics of Saint Stephen (photo by Unnaugan) From Wikimedia Commons, used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Stephen also founded the primital see at Esztergom. He established a somewhat limited feudal structure to establish royal power over the noble class, and he dissolved tribal divisions in the country. He sometimes used force to ensure conversion, abolish superstitions, or paganism. Stephen punished blasphemy and adultery similar to that for theft or murder. Marriage with non-Christians was forbidden. Stephen was well-known for personal charity to the poor. His courts provided just legal treatment to all. At his death, miracles were reported at his tomb which is now enshrined at St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest. He is the patron saint of Hungary, and canonized in 1083 by Pope Gregory VII. Esztergom is also the location of the tomb of Josef Cardinal Mindszenty (1892-1975), Prince-Primate of Hungary, who led the Church during World War II against the Nazis, and then during the communist era. After arrest, beatings, and imprisonment, Mindszenty was convicted in a 1949 show trial, released briefly during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, after which he sought asylum at the United States embassy in Budapest for 15 years. As a result of Holy See-Hungarian negotiations during the era of Ostpolitik, Mindszenty was released in 1971, went to Rome, then to Vienna, where he died in 1975. His remains were returned to Hungary and to Esztergom after 1989 at the end of Soviet occupation. 
 Left: Basilica in Esztergom, Hungary (photo by Pudelek) Right: Mindszenty Memorial, Esztergom Basilica (photo by Thaler Tamas) Both photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license REFERENCES: |
