The establishment of the Orthodox chapel in the capital was made possible by private donations.

The historical past also points to the need to create the unity of Christians, Catholics and Orthodox, said Zoltán Lomnici, the founding president of the Council for Human Dignity (EMT) at the consecration of the Orthodox chapel built under the auspices of the EMT with a private donation in Budapest on Sunday.

The chapel consecration ceremony was celebrated by Universal Patriarch Bartholomaios I of Constantinople and Archbishop-Metropolitan Arseionos Kardamakis, who was in Hungary on a six-day visit at the invitation of the Pannonhalmi Archabbey.

The EMT is trying to do everything in its power to create the unity of Christians, and they are happy that this Sunday consecration was performed by the universal patriarch himself, said Zoltán Lomnici.

He recalled that Bartholomew I, who represents hundreds of millions of believers of the Orthodox Church, received the EMT award two years ago, and is at the forefront of bringing Orthodox and Catholic Christians closer together.

The founding president of the EMT praised the charity of the saint of the Orthodox Church, the daughter of the Hungarian King Saint László, Szent Piroska, during his historical reference.

He also recalled that King St. Stephen, the founder of the state, revered as a saint by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, carefully ensured that Orthodox could also operate among the first monastic orders in Hungary.

These historical acts represent the common past of the two churches, said Zoltán Lomnici.

During the solemn consecration, Bartholomew I thanked and expressed his gratitude to the donor and the Hungarian government, which - as the head of the church put it - secured a place for the Orthodox chapel in the historical center of Budapest.

The Universal Patriarch of Constantinople gave special thanks to Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, whom he called his friend.

At the event, the donor Miklós Szunai, the general secretary of the EMT, Arsenios Kardamakis, Metropolitan of Austria and Exarch of Hungary and Central Europe, presented a silver cross of merit "for his work for the church at all times, as a sign of recognition and thanks".

MTI