Journal index

Ambrus Mózes329 -- 351

The Second Vienna Award brought a positive turn for the Hungarians living in Northern Transylvania, which was also reflected in the academic life. In our study, we examine the impact of the return to the motherland on the work of theological teachers. Református Szemle was one of the most important press organs of Transylvanian Reformed Church, and we will examine the writings, editorials and articles published there. The articles of the year 1940 are examined in more detail. During this year, four teachers (Tavaszy, Gönczy, Imre, Nagy) had their writings published in the Református Szemle. We analyse their writings exploring the eventual influence of the aftermath of the Second Vienna Award on the style, message and theme of their writings.

Református Szemle 115.3 (2022)Research articleChurch history
Biró István339 -- 354

In this study we present papers and theses of students submitted in church history, in response to teachers’ assignments at the Faculty of Theology in Kolozsvár/Cluj between 1898 and 1944. These works were closely related to the history teaching church history at the Faculty, being intended to promote independent scientific research and talent management. During the period analysed here, a total of twenty-six works in church history were completed as fulfilments of the thirty-four assigned topics. The number of works submitted and the number of topics assigned varied from period to period, but they are relevantly embedded in the framework of the institutional curriculum.

Református Szemle 114.3 (2021)Research articleChurch history
Biró István687 -- 708

In our study, we examined a significant change of administration and power: what was the impact of the Second Vienna Award of 30 August 1940 on the Faculty of Theology of the Transylvanian Reformed Church in Cluj/Kolozsvár? This historical turn of events was not only a cause for joy, but also a major change and challenge for theological education.

We were able to gain insight into the challenges the faculty and its leadership faced in the new situation and the solutions they sought to address them. After the second Vienna Award, the integration of the faculty into the ecclesiastical higher education of the Hungarian state was one of the primary tasks. The academic situation of the students also had to be sorted out, and the Faculty had to face a significant reduction in its staff and the financial crisis. These influences changed the internal and external life of the faculty; consequently, we see that social, administrative and political changes had a particular impact on the functioning of the institute and on the training of ministers.

The writings of the theological teachers in ecclesiastical publications have provided a basis for understanding the processes of power change in Transylvania in their ecclesiastical context. They helped to develop a correct vision and to identify the perceived and expected consequences of the decision. Our study also shows that during this period, ecclesiastical and public activities were deeply intertwined.

Református Szemle 114.6 (2021)Research articleChurch history
Kulcsár Árpád491 -- 522

In this paper I present a thorough examination of Laszló Ravasz’s publications from the period 1901–1903, when he was a student of the Protestant Theological Seminary and the State University of Cluj/Kolozsvár. In this period, he shows signs of uncertainty whether to become a Reformed minister or a journalist, novelist, or critic. This period of life of a student is typically characterised by an interest in almost everything. He writes more than forty poems, short novels, theatrical critics, but most often he relates about the student life in the magazine Kolozsvári Egyetemi Lapok. He attempts to follow well-known journalist of his time. His descriptive writings demonstrate how good a writer he was already in the early years of his career.

Református Szemle 113.5 (2020)Research articleChurch history
Rácz Emese534 -- 546

The relocation of the Reformed Theological Faculty from Aiud to Cluj in 1895 was preceded by a heavy dispute lasting several decades, and settled ultimately by the clash between Bishop Domokos Szász, promoting the relocation to Cluj, and Professor Ödön Kovács, militating for the stay of the institution at Aiud. The debate on the closure of the theological institution of Aiud was clearly one of the topics of everyday discussion during the final quarter of the 19th century, as reflected in contemporary newspaper articles. This study scrutinizes the related articles of one of these local newspapers, Közérdek (Public interest) during the year 1896, when the theological institution of Aiud was finally closed.

Református Szemle 111.5 (2018)Research articleChurch history
Ősz Sándor Előd436 -- 448

Die Studenten der reformierten Hochschulen haben sich in der Frühen Neuzeit ins Immatrikulationsbuch der Hochschulen handschriftlich mit der Formel Ego N. N. subcribo legibus scholae reformatae... eingetragen. Die 1895 im Klausenburg (ung. Kolozsvár, heute Cluj-Napoca) gegründete Reformierte Theologische Fakultät hat dieser Tradition unter ihren Studenten als Praxis wieder eingeführt. Ab der Gründung der Hochschule in Klausenburg bis 1948 hat sich jeder Student handschriftlich immatrikuliert. Bei der Immatrikulation sollte neben seinen Namen jeder auch noch sein Geburtsort, die Name und den Beruf des Vaters oder Widerhaltes angeben, sowie das Gymnasium wo er dem Abitur abgelegt hatte und weitere Daten über seinen Kenntnissen in Fremdsprachen im Immatrikulationsbuch einführen. Die statistische Verarbeitung dieser Angaben macht uns möglich spannende Daten und merkwürdige Zusammenhänge über der sozialen Herkunft und Hintergrund der Pfarrergesellschaft der reformierten und teilweise über der ungarischlutherischen Pfarrer in Siebenbürgen zu erschließen.

Református Szemle 111.4 (2018)Research articleChurch history
Benkő Timea397 -- 409

Der Beitrag ist zum Anlass des 120jähriges Bestehens des Reformierten Theologischen Fakultät in Klausenburg, und 25jähriges Jubiläum des gemischten Chores des Protestantisch Theologischen Institutes in Klausenburg als Vortrag gehalten. Die Tradition eines Fakultätschores führt das alte Vorbild von den protestantischen Kollegien weiter, wo das Chorsingen sowie Musik- und Kirchengesangunterricht eine wichtige Rolle spielte. Diese Tradition wurde ab 19. Jahrhundert bis 1945 auch unter der Obhut des Gesang- und Musikvereins der Fakultät gepflegt. 1990 wurde vom Professor László Attila Kovács der gemischte Chor der Fakultät gegründet, der ab 2008 von Timea Benkő geleitet wird.

Református Szemle 111.4 (2018)Research articlePractical theology
Gaal György306 -- 336

This study presents the life and activity of Sándor Berde (1856–1894). Berde was born in a little village in Seklers’ Land. He studied in and graduated from the Reformed College of Nagyenyed (Aiud). He continued his studies in Vienna, Jena and Basel. He became an adherent of the liberal theology having a predilection for scientific results instead of the old religious teachings. During his studies in Jena, he specialized himself in New Testament theology. After his return to Transylvania, he became the missionary minister of the parish in Kackó (Câţcău). Eight other villages belonged to his parish. The Hungarian population lived very scattered in this area, continually diminishing in number. So the minister was in a very difficult situation. In 1889 Berde took the private-docent-exam at the Nagyenyed Theological Academy. This was the period of the foundation of the Reformed Theological Faculty of Kolozsvár (Cluj). So the Church Council elected Berde as a professor of the Faculty in Kolozsvár, and sent him temporarily to teach at Nagyenyed. This was a very unpleasant situation. He taught there New Testament for four school years being much appreciated by his colleagues and the students. He died of tuberculosis. Though he was the very first professor of the Faculty of Kolozsvár, he is never mentioned as such in historical works. He is mostly appreciated as the father of his children: one daughter became a novelist, the other a painter; the youngest son was a famous dermatologist.

Református Szemle 111.3 (2018)Research articleChurch history
Dávid Gyula691 -- 705

After the death of Stalin the church policy of the communist states formerly belonging to the Soviet bloc began to change gradually. In 1955 Áron Márton, a Roman Catholic bishop sentenced to death, was released from prison, and many other priests, monks and ministers were freed. Hungarian Protestant churches in Romania were allowed to contact sister churches in Hungary and the world. Following a simplified administrative procedure for obtaining passports, people were allowed to travel abroad and build relationships. Romanian citizens became aware of the unease and dissatisfaction towards the political system in Hungary. The events of the 1956 Revolution were followed mostly through the radio, and Hungarians in Romania have openly expressed their sympathy, especially university students and students of theology. They openly opposed the official propaganda labelling the Hungarian uprising as counter-revolution. After the revolution in Hungary was suppressed, the Romanian state power also retaliated. In the first period the Hungarian clergy were mingled especially in other kind of political issues. Then, after 1958, several explicitly church oriented suits followed. Four lawsuits against 26 Protestant theological students, ministers and theology professors. In three so-called Bethanist-cases 21 ministers and church members were found guilty. 15 further church members were convicted in show trials, in many cases based on their attitude towards the 1956 Revolution. These trials were part of an anti-religious propaganda started in 1957, but in a larger context they were intended to intimidate the Hungarian ethnic people. They intended to create a context of fear, in which the communist power could take the initiative to liquidate the autonomous Hungarian university and undergraduate school system, and in which, by means of his own delegated church representatives, could intervene and control the church from within.

Református Szemle 109.6 (2016)Research articleChurch history