Imre Makovecz was commemorated with the unveiling of a plaque on Sunday in Timișoara, in the 90 percent completed New Millennium Reformed Center designed by the architect.

The relief designed by the sculptor András Vetró was unveiled in the courtyard of the center, which consists of a Reformed church and spaces for cultural events.

László Tőkés, a former reformed bishop of Karyálhágómelek and a former pastor of Temesvár, said in his sermon: the church is a "symbol of our faith and our permanence" and a worthy memorial on the 88th anniversary of the birth of its dreamer.

He called Imré Makovecz a wise builder who "brought the sky close to the earth with his organic art and sacred architecture", the main purpose of the churches he designed is to create a connection between God and man. The Hungarians of Temesvár believe and hope that his work was not in vain, "let this church be a certainty", he emphasized.

László Tőkés remembered the words of Fidesz politician Zsolt Németh at the inauguration of the church in 2019, according to which the church serves to restore and heal the wounds caused by the communist system, and its name is no coincidence.

"True to our millennial heritage, finding our way back to the foundations of Christianity, we are building a new bastion and a strong castle for the new millennium on the old foundations," said the former bishop.

István Gazda, the pastor of the church in Temesvár, said: the huge work, which is a miracle in itself, is 90 percent complete. He recalled that Imre Makovecz himself called them "fools" when they started construction without adequate financial background. "Those who pitied us at the time are ashamed to admit: the New Millennium Reformed Center was still built," he underlined.

As he said, the relief plaque depicting the designer reminds the congregation of its Hungarianness and obligations, that one must live a wise life like Imre Makovecz. "And we, bowing before his memory, promise to finish the work," said the pastor.

About the remaining works, István Gazda said: 2-3 percent of them have the financial cover, they received HUF 250 million in support from the Hungarian government this year, from which they will finish the conference building, which they will take possession of next summer.

Then there would be the completion of the towers, the placement of the wings and the bell, the completion of the Hungarian restaurant and kitchen in the basement of the conference hall, the completion and arrangement of the yard and gates, and a transformer house would also be built to ensure the power supply. Funding for these works is still being sought, if it could be found, the building would be completed in 2025 - concluded István Gazda.

The construction of the New Millennium Reformed Center was initiated by László Tőkés, a former pastor of Timisoara, whose resistance to the communist authorities in Timisoara in December 1989 caused a wave of solidarity and a popular uprising, and led to the fall of the Ceausescu dictatorship within a week.

The complex, consisting of three domes, two towers and two building wings, was built with the support of several EU tenders and the Hungarian state.

In addition to the church, community spaces, exhibition spaces, and a hall suitable for holding chamber concerts were created in the building complex. A conference room and a library were planned for the dome under construction, and a Hungarian restaurant for the basement.

At the plaque unveiling on Sunday, a message from the family of Imre Makovecz was also read, and the exhibition "Form and Shape" by András Vetró was opened in the club hall.

MTI

Cover photo: László Tőkés called Imré Makovecz a wise master builder who "brought heaven close to earth with his organic art and sacred architecture"
Source: ehir.ro