Franciscan monk Balázs Barsi and poet János Lackfi received the Stephanus Prize this year. The recognitions were presented by Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Antal Spányi, Bishop of Székesfehérvár County, President of the Stephanus Foundation, on Monday in Budapest.

Antal Spányi explained: the Stephanus Prize is a joint cultural prize of the Szent István Society (SZIT) and the Stephanus Foundation, which is presented at the festive opening of the Szent István Book Week in the literary and theological category. The awardees are authors who, in their works published in Hungarian, convey the values ​​of the universal Christian-European culture, both in the fields of theological sciences and literary genres. The prize has been won by 64 people since 1993, he added.

In his eulogy, the Jesuit monk Szabolcs Szabolcs, director of the House of Dialogue, called János Lackfi a true "co-creator" who takes seriously what every human being is called to do: he experiences God's fruitful presence within himself. He said: he is a writer, poet, translator, author of 80 books, 42 volumes translated from French, and 10 dramas of "barely comprehensible" fertility, who constantly publishes on offline and online platforms. His works have been translated into 15 languages ​​and have an impact on literature and other arts, he said.

Thanking him for the recognition, János Lackfi recalled: as a university student, he learned from László Lator the idea of ​​poetry that is commonly called new moon, according to which a strong poetic text is "open upwards" and speaks in code about the transcendent. He added: as an adult convert, he also spoke about his faith with this "shyness". However, seven years ago, God "gave him a new conversion" and he began to "talk quite shamelessly" about his love for God. János Lackfi called it moving if the "God who does not need anyone" can use his "excitement" to "communicate his astonishing uniqueness".

Tulassay Tivadar, doctor, professor emeritus, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, praised Balázs Barsi and emphasized that his work is part of Hungarian Christian culture in that his work has a European dimension and is integrated into European intellectual life. As a theologian, he not only knows the depths of religious studies and can convey them suggestively, but is also a true teacher, an educator of generations, who draws his students to him with his never-ending enthusiasm, it was said. In addition, Balázs Barsi is the custodian of the thousand-year-old values ​​of church music and Catholic liturgy, and one of the innovators of Hungarian church music based on his own traditions, who believes that the ancient Gregorian chant is not primarily music, but a prayer arising from the abundance of the soul, a response to God who reveals his love. However, most people know him as a preacher, his sermons are a spiritual support for many people, and there are many people who start and end each day with the reflections of Balázs Barsi, Tulassay Tivadar said.

Thanking Balázs Barsi for the award, he spoke about the fact that the word "thank you", which we use so often, is actually waiting to be fulfilled in everyone's life. Our prayers are often spoiled by the fact that while we say them too many times, we don't actually allow the "volcano dormant in the depths of the word thank you" to erupt, he said. He emphasized: this word can be fully realized when we see the Creator face to face, but then it will cease, giving way to another word, love.

Saint Stephen's Book Week, the largest gathering of Christian book publishers in Hungary, was opened by Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, patron of the Society of Saint Stephen (SZIT), at Pázmány Péter Catholic University. Péter Erdő wished the visitors of the book week to deepen and strengthen their faith by reading the publications.

Olivér Farkas, the director of the SZIT, explained: at the 31st book week, 29 publishers are waiting for those interested with about 7,000 publications, including 65 book week novelties, until Friday at Ferenciek square in the V district. 34 authors will dedicate their works every afternoon, the book week programs can be found in the book week catalog and on the event's website , he added.

Olivér Farkas said: Hungarian religious orders are represented by the Agapé, Bencés, Don Bosco, Jesuit and Korda Publishing Houses, while the Protestant church communities are represented by the Harmat, János Kálvin, Luther Publishing House, and the Hungarian Bible Society Foundation. Among the participating Catholic church publishers, he mentioned Jel Kiadó, Szent Gellért Publishers and Szent István Társulat, and among the private publishers Kairosz, L'Harmattan, Tinta Kiadó and the National Széchényi Library, among others.

Gábor Sarbak, president of the Szent István Society, singled out Balázs Barsi's Breviary and János Lackfi's Why does God allow it? entitled, published by Szent István Társulat. He mentioned Asztrik Várszegi and Gabriella Palotai's conversation book Pár-beszédben Dietrich Bonhoeffer. On the road to freedom , published by Luther and Kálvin Publishing.

MTI / kultura.hu

Photos: Gyula Czimbal and Zoltán Máthé / MTI