Studium

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.