The reconstruction of the King St. István Cathedral in Székesfehérvár has been completed, and it was blessed by Cardinal-Primate Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, on the city's vow celebration on Sunday.
Péter Erdő reminded that: the church is named after King St. Stephen, the patron saint of the diocese is Our Lady, and the Székesfehérvár basilica had a special role in the life of the Catholic Church and Hungary. Hungarian kings were buried in Székesfehérvár in the Middle Ages and the ancient basilica was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he added.
In his homily, Péter Erdő praised the Virgin Mary, as the Catholic Church celebrates her Assumption on the Feast of the Assumption. He said: She is the queen of all saints, "in her the fulfillment of the ultimate goal of our faith appears", and then he asked us to give mothers respect, honor and real recognition.
County Bishop Antal Spányi said: Saint István entrusted his country and nation to the protection of the Virgin in Székesfehérvár. He said: In 2014, the collapse of the roof structure endangered the Székesfehérvár basilica, which bears the name of King Szent István, so the exterior structure was renovated first, and then, from 2018, the interior of the church as well.
The Diocese of Székesfehérvár wrote in a statement sent to MTI on Sunday: during the interior renovation of the baroque-style cathedral in its present appearance - led by the Munkácsy Award-winning painter-restorer artist Jeszeniczky Ildikó - the cleaning, conservation and aesthetic restoration of 2,000 square meters of wall paintings was completed, as well as 66 paintings including the high altar. square meter canvas, and the restoration of 136 tombstones in the lower church.
In addition, approximately 1,500 square meters of artificial marble and stucco surfaces, as well as the pulpit and all metal furnishings, were restored. Under the guidance of art restorer Gyula Bodnár, all the wooden baroque statues, the frames of the altarpieces, altar furniture and other wooden furnishings were renewed.
In place of the 19th-century painting of St. Cecilia above the organ gallery, which has been repainted several times, a new mural matching the unity of the baroque decoration was created according to the designs of the emeritus rector of the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Mihály Prize-winning painter Frigyes Munkácsy Kőnig.
In addition to the restoration of the artefacts, a modern audio-visual system was installed, as well as building mechanical and asset security works, read the diocesan announcement.
Source: MH / MTI
