Church history

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.

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.

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 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.