Journal index

In my study, I present the ministry of Bishop János Vásárhelyi in Dej, where he served as minister responsible for home missions and as inspector of schools. The years he spent in Dés were a period of inner renewal and strength for him, while at the same time he organised the congregation’s charitable service, launched youth work, reorganized the Association of the Confirmed and revitalised the church life of the congregation in Déscichegy (Viile Dejului). Following the change of sovereignty, he founded a Reformed secondary school, which at that time was the only Hungarian middle-level educational institution in Szolnok-Doboka and Beszterce-Naszód counties. As a member of the Vécsi Szövetség (League of Brâncovenești) and the Lelkész Egyesület (Union of Ministers), he became involved in the wider ecclesiastical life of the Reformed Church, while simultaneously taking part in the civic life of the town as a member of the Dési Nemzeti Tanács (National Council of Dej).

Following the defeat of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848, Mihály Basa continued his pastoral ministry at his new place of service in Harasztos (now Călărași). His work proved fruitful. The life of the community showed signs of growth and change, and he faithfully and devotedly fulfilled the duties that came with his position as dean. He had to deal with spiritual, communal, personal, and administrative matters. In making decisions, he always sought to serve and defend the cause of his Mother Church. His service was valued and recognised by his contemporaries. His personal life path stands as a fine example of the pastoral vocation in the 19th century.

In this paper, I compare Paul Johannes Tillich’s existentialist theology with the traditionalist Protestant theological position, as reflected especially in the Second Helvetic Confession and its commentaries. The comparison starts from Tillich’s interpretation of God and existence, which I contrast with sections from the Second Helvetic Confession. One of the main goals of this paper is to bring Paul Tillich’s theology closer and interpret it through the traditional (primarily Reformed) Protestant perspective. In this thesis, I have relied primarily on Paul Tillich’s fundamental works and on studies based on those.

In 2019, an exceptionally rich array of biblical archaeological finds came to light. The discovery of Herodotus’ seafaring ship (baris) confirmed the credibility of the ancient historian. In Jerusalem, material evidence of the Babylonian siege of 586 BC was unearthed, including seal-impressed vessels and traces of exotic vanilla. At the city gate of Lachish, tangible traces of King Hezekiah’s religious reforms were discovered. The excavation of the Jerusalem pilgrimage road (from Siloam to the Temple Mount) corroborated the account of Josephus Flavius. The submerged city sections of Thonis–Heracleion revealed the centre of Egyptian–Hellenistic trade. In Saqqara, a gilded silver funerary mask was found, shedding new light on Egyptian burial rites. These discoveries at Jerusalem, Lachish, Thonis–Heracleion, and Saqqara contribute to a more precise understanding of prophetic references, while the comparison of historical records with archaeological finds results in a clearer and more accurate grasp of dated events.

Karl Barth’s Letter to the Romans is the theologian’s best-known and most influential work. In any case, it cannot be ignored when examining theological developments in the 20th century. This presentation will focus on where this epoch-making work can be placed between a hermeneutical manifest and classical commentary literature. Of particular interest are the intertextual aspects of Barth’s work, which this paper emphasizes. It examines the structure of Barth’s work and its argumentative framework within the contemporary ideological and cultural context, aiming to help Hungarian readers better understand Barth’s text. The presentation also explains and justifies certain translational decisions.

In the 21st century, the global center of gravity of Christianity is shifting from the Northern Hemisphere to the Global South, with significant growth in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In contrast, Europe and North America are experiencing decline due to increasing secularization and religious disaffiliation. Migration is giving rise to new, culturally diverse diaspora congregations around the world. The increasingly popular digital space offers new opportunities for Christian mission, yet it cannot replace personal community. The faithfulness and growth of persecuted churches serve as powerful and inspiring testimonies to us all. At the same time, Christian responses to the pressing issues of social justice are becoming more important. For these reasons, discipleship plays a key role in the future of churches across all continents – along with a serving, fruitful church life that glorifies Christ, transcends itself, and authentically represents the Creator God in today’s world.

Miklós Bánffy (1873–1950) as member of the Count Bánffys of Losoncz family was born in Kolozsvár, and returned there twenty-six years after his death. The writer, artist, politician and cultural organizer, who had a wide-ranging and rich life, repeatedly returned to his native town to start life anew, and these homecomings continued after his death through the wavering successes of his memory and his legacy care. The memory of Miklós Bánffy was also immortalised in a marble bust by Alajos Strobl, but the site of a bronze copy of the statue, modelled by one of the greatest sculptors of the time, is still being finalised. It is our responsibility to make this monument public, to provide Miklós Bánffy memory with a symbolic tribute-place in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca).

This study examines the formative pastoral ministry of Bishop János Vásárhelyi during his early career, spanning his one-year assistantship in Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár) and seven-year ministry of the Reformed Congregation in Bistriţa (Beszterce). Vásárhelyi prioritized preaching as fundamental to effective pastoral ministry while implementing comprehensive home mission programs including adult and youth Bible studies, Sunday school, religious education, and devotional services. His pastoral care extended to congregational families and military personnel, complemented by charitable initiatives and tract distribution. He pursued congregational development through church renovations and organizational restructuring. Concurrently, Vásárhelyi maintained active civic engagement, serving as editor of Beszterczei Magyar Hírlap (Hungarian Gazette of Bistriţa), board member of the Pawn Credit Institution, and secretary of both the Székely Society and the Hungarian Artisans’ Association.

This study examines the journalistic contributions of Mihály Basa, a Reformed minister whose written works demonstrate significant engagement with contemporary educational discourse. Basa’s publications reveal a sustained commitment to popular education advocacy, positioning him as a prominent voice in Transylvanian educational reform movements. His comprehensive reform proposal systematically addressed critical educational challenges facing Transylvania during his era. His recommendations reflect both pedagogical insight and practical consideration of regional educational needs. Additionally, the research explores Basa’s broader ecclesiastical concerns, particularly his efforts to maintain and defend the institutional reputation of the Reformed Church.

This study examines the funeral customs within the Reformed Deanery of Sepsi through empirical research conducted across seven congregations. Data collection involved structured interviews with pastors using a standardized questionnaire, supplemented by insights from congregation members who provided additional contextual information. The research addresses several theoretical dimensions of Reformed funeral practices, including the liturgical nature of funeral services, the historical evolution of ceremonial elements, and the service-oriented characteristics of these rituals. A key focus was the identification and analysis of paraliturgical elements, with particular attention to their theological significance and practical application within congregational life. The study investigates the relationship between paraliturgical elements, pastoral care, community formation, and the cultivation of theologically appropriate attitudes toward death and mortality. Additionally, the research examines the role of preaching in establishing and maintaining funeral practices that align with Reformed theological principles and divine will.

This article examines the establishment and significance of the Reformed Study Fund, which enabled Hungarian students to pursue theological education at the Free University in Amsterdam or the Theological University in Kampen. Established in 1921, this fund continued the tradition of the 1761 Bernardinum Scholarship, which facilitated Hungarian and Palatine students’ studies in Utrecht. The research explores the fund’s initiator, Jenő Sebestyén, an advocate of neo-Calvinist Abraham Kuyper, founder of Amsterdam’s Free University and influential leader within the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands – a denomination emerging from the 1892 schism in the Reformed Church. The paper analyses this ecclesiastical division, the strengthening Dutch-Hungarian relations following the First World War, and the subsequent foundation of the Reformed Study Fund.

This study provides insight into the life trajectory, pastoral development and ministry of Mihály Basa, a Reformed minister, whilst examining the civil and ecclesiastical conditions of 19th-century Transylvania and the intellectual endeavours of the period. The paper pays tribute to Basa’s unwavering faith and resolute action during the turbulent 1848–1849 revolution and war of independence.

This study examines the emergence and spread of Protestantism in Korea from the late 19th to early 20th century. Christianity, particularly Protestantism, exerted significant influence on Korea’s social and political development, especially in education, healthcare and modernisation. Schools and hospitals established by American and European missionaries contributed substantially to the widespread acceptance of Christianity. During the Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945), Protestant communities actively participated in independence movements, whilst Christianity became integral to Korean national identity. This study explores how Protestantism evolved from a religious movement into a defining force in Korean society and politics.

In this paper, I examine Nicaea, Constantine and Eusebius through the lens of anti-Judaism – a concept distinct from anti-Semitism. Whilst church historians often distinguish sharply between these phenomena, I argue against completely separating Nazi racial anti-Semitism from traditional Christian anti-Judaism. Such separation risks absolving churches of their complicity in Jewish suffering throughout history. Though antisemitism remains an essential ecumenical concern, and Christian anti-Judaism was indeed anchored at Nicaea, Eusebius’s relationship with Jews cannot be simplistically labelled anti-Judaic. The Nicene Creed itself contains no explicit anti-Judaism, and Constantine’s establishment of Sunday worship in 321 shows little evidence of anti-Jewish motivation. Whilst anti-Jewish sentiments influenced the separation of Easter from Passover, the Council’s primary concern was ecclesiastical unity rather than religious antagonism.