Posted on 09/14/2019 5:26:41 PM PDT by marshmallow
Eger, Hungary also famous for fending off Muslim invasion
EGER, Hungary (ChurchMilitant.com) - A new church named after Pope St. John Paul II has been built on the site of a former Communist estate in the history-laden city of Eger in northeastern Hungary.
Hungarian State Secretary Miklós Soltész said it is significant that the new church is built in a Communist-era housing estate designed to form the letters CCCP (Russian abbreviation for USSR) when viewed from the air.
"It was a major effort by the Soviet Union and communism to completely eradicate faith, religion and Christianity, and wherever new housing estates were built ... churches were not allowed to be built," Soltész said.
The naming of the church after the sainted pontiff also bears significance as had it not been for him, many maintain, Hungarians would still be "subjects of the People's Republic of Hungary."
The state secretary confirmed that 250 million forints ($830,700 U.S.) of the costs of the new church have been paid by the state, arguing that it is the government's task and obligation, where possible, to support efforts to build churches.
The people of Eger have long memories of many other foreign attacks and invasions — even if their fort did not provide such a magnificent reminder.
The Siege of Eger in 1552 by Muslim Turks represents one example of the persistence of Hungarians to preserve and protect their Christian faith and culture. The siege has become an emblem of national defense and patriotic heroism in Hungary.
(Excerpt) Read more at churchmilitant.com ...
I’m glad they built the church, BUT, it is a hideous looking building. They need to put up a glorious cathedral.
I agree. Eastern European “Brutalist Stalinesque” is not my favorite genre of Architecture. Especially for a church associated with Pope John Paul II, who was not a fan of Communism either.
St. John Paul II, Pope, lived through the occupations of Nazis and Communists.
He helped the Polish people to remember and practice their history, their culture and especially their Catholic Faith.
Too bad European Union refused to put their shared culture and history in their charter as John Paul and Pope Benedict recommended.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle.
Awesome! I’m all for building over former
left wing sites.
It’s a start.
It’s ALWAYS good to see people throw off the democrat communist yoke and give the bastards a stiff middle finger in the eye.
Yep, it’s an eyesore. Perhaps it should be considered a placeholder until money can be raised to build a more worthy structure.
Reminds me of a church that built in Poland in new town that was built in town in the 70’s by the town’s people in that country when it was communist and the masses took place in the open fields. St. John Paul 2 consecrated it.
When last in Kiev, Ukraine, I was advised that this architecture is known as “Socialist Realism”.
Indeed. That is its “official” name. I call it “Butt-Ugly”. :O: :-)
To those who have never been there, Eger is an absolutely gorgeous town about an hour or two east of Budapest. There are a lot of really beautiful 18th century churches painted in bright colors. The town is also famous for Egre Bikaver....literally “bull’s blood of Eger” which is the best known Hungarian wine. I developed a taste for it when I lived in Budapest twice.
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