This year, Budapest-Belvárosi Nagyboldogasszony Főplébánia celebrates the 975th anniversary of its foundation, this does not indicate the age of the church, but the fact that since 1048 there has been a continuous Christian community here, "a living sanctuary of living stones", emphasized the parish priest Zoltán Osztie at the press conference on the anniversary events.
As he said: this year, in addition to the foundation, their community also commemorates the fact that the main altar of the church was completed in 1948, as well as the speech of Cardinal József Mindszenty was delivered there 75 years ago. The cardinal said at the time that this community "narrates, teaches and ultimately leads to eternal life", recalled Zoltán Osztie.
Regarding the teaching, the parish priest emphasized: the church has the answer to everything, to all of today's questions of society. "In a world that has become godless, which denies its Christian roots, we are the custodians of hope, we are God-loving and people-loving, we look to the future, we walk in Christ's embassies," said Zoltán Osztie.
Organist Zsolt Máté Mészáros, the music director of the church, explained: he tried to put together colorful holiday programs worthy of the main parish's musical past, so that they could appeal to as wide a circle as possible, for example, the works of Liszt will be performed at nine thematic concerts.
Mihály Aranyossy, deputy caretaker responsible for tourism and cultural events, said that the events of the commemorative year are grouped around three milestones: the high altar created by Pál C. Molnár will be celebrated on the painter's birthday, April 28, and the four-day farewell to the 975-year-old parish will take place from August 12 to 15 lasts until , and Cardinal József Mindszenty's speech will be recalled on November 3.
In addition to the mentioned main programs, they organize numerous performances, pilgrimages and spiritual exercises, organ recordings are released on CD, there will be a charity concert for the victims of the energy crisis, a film screening and a book presentation.
MTI
Cover photo: MTI/Tamás Kovács
