On the last Friday of July, the 30th, the St. László memorial mass of Niitra was organized according to the usual tradition in the Piarist church consecrated in honor of the knight king.
The following sentence was included in the invitation to the uplifting church event organized on the occasion of the 926th anniversary of the death of our apostolic knight-king: "in connection with the Eucharistic Congress, they pray for the religious, spiritual and moral renewal of our Hungarian nation and for the Hungarian families".
The main patron of the memorial mass is ft. Zoltán Gyurcsó, the Hungarian vicar of the Diocese of Nyitrai, the main celebrant is His Excellency. dr. Astrik Várszegi was the emeritus abbot of Pannonhalm.
The minister carried the crucifix at the head of the festive procession, followed by the members of the Order of Saint George, the clergy and the abbot. In the meantime, Cantor István Stubendek performed the hymn No. 293, beginning with God for our country, the 2nd verse of which evokes our knight-king: "King László's valiant chivalry/ Oh, if only you could see this". The singing was led by Mónika Józsa, professor at Niitra University.
His Excellency dr. Astrik Várszegi, emeritus abbot of Pannonhalmi/illustration
At the beginning of the festive parade, Dr. István Zeman greeted the retired abbot Mr. Asztrik, whom he thanked on behalf of the large number of believers for accepting the invitation and making the pilgrimage in this great heat, covering quite a distance.
Father Asztrik was happy to come from Pannonhalma to Nitra, where Bishop Asztrik, whose name he bears, has descendants. As mentioned, while Pannonhalma is first mentioned in the charter from 1055, Nyitra dates back 116 years, that is, more than a century earlier.
Before the end of the festive mass, Dr. Teacher and knight Tamás Tóthpál spoke to the pilgrims, greeting with great respect his former teacher, Abbot Astrik, whom he was happy to bring by car from Pannonhalma to Nitra. He drew the attention of those present to the relics of Hungarian saints, in front of which it was possible to pay homage with a procession after the festive blessing, hymns and the procession.
In the Esterházy chapel/Felvidek.ma/Zilizi Kristóf/
After the mass, some of the pilgrims visited the János Esterházy Pilgrimage Center in Alsóbodok, located in a beautiful, picturesque environment. At the grave, Jr. Ottó Csampai spoke to those present and welcomed the pilgrims, including Abbot Asztrik, who at the end said a prayer for the beatification of János Esterházy.
Source: aelvidek.ma
Featured image: Kristóf Zelizi
