The Subcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) held a national conquest commemoration ceremony at one of the most significant memorial sites of Subcarpathian Hungarians, in the memorial park of the Tiszacsoma village near Beregszász.
Since 1996, Transcarpathian Hungarians have been commemorating their conquering ancestors in Tiszacsomá in the Beregszász district, in the Conquest Memorial Park, where archaeologists excavated a thousand-year-old Árpád-era cemetery and settlement a quarter of a century ago. A year ago, the celebration was canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic, but this year, the favorable health situation made it possible to commemorate together.
The legend of the conquest marks the beginning of our history - said András Mihály Beke, the first subordinate consul of the Beregszász Consulate of Hungary, who greeted those present. "We have found our place in Europe, we have created the state of the Hungarians, a Christian and independent state," underlined the diplomat.
According to his words, for centuries the state of St. István provided protection and a home to all the people of the Holy Crown, the descendants of the conquering Hungarians, the Slovaks and Ruthenians living here, the Serbs moving north from the attacks of the Ottoman Empire, the Romanians crossing the Carpathians, the hard-working Germans who settled here from far away and to others.
The celebration of the conquest has already become a beautiful tradition here, András Mihály Beke stated. "We don't preserve the traditions, they preserve us," said the Hungarian consul from Beregsász.
Zoltán Babják Beregszász, and also the mayor of the sub-region to which he belongs, welcomed the 26-year-old initiative of the KMKSZ, thanks to which visitors can learn about the lifestyle of our conquering ancestors and the folk crafts for two days with the help of thematic programs.
According to his words, a new national holiday was born in 1996, and the Tiszacsoma National Liberation Memorial Park is "the guardian of our national identity".
Géza Gulácsi, the vice-president of the KMKSZ, compared the Hungarian nation to an ancient, storm-torn oak tree, whose "many branches have broken off, and yet are here", while we know of many peoples and empires that can only be found in history books today. Speaking about the task of today's generation, the politician explained that "we must remain loyal and cling to our motherland with the tenacity of an oak tree".
At the end of the ceremony, the representatives of the historical churches said a blessing, and then those present placed wreaths of remembrance.
MTI
Photo: MTI/János Nemes
