Hungarian Saints

Hungary is a traditional catholic country since the early of the 11th century. Most of our saints are members of Arpad house, the first dynasty of Hungarian kings.

St Stephen King (Szent István) (967 - 1038)

St Stephen was the first of the line of Hungarian saints and kings. He established an independent European style state institution, which based on Christian faith. He made an end of the pagan belief and traditions. After defeating the pagan chief Koppany he became the king. St Stephen asked a crown from the pope in AD 1000. According to his legend at the night before Hungarian legate had arrived to Rome the pope had a dream. An angel said to him that the next day would arrive a legate from an unknown country and he had to give them a crown, which symbolise that nation independence. St Stephen's state institution was used up to the end of the 18th century. He established the Hungarian Church system as well. His wife, Gizella, came from Bavaria. His son St Imre died in a hunting accident, so he died without a son who could inherit his country. Before he died in 1038, he asked Virgin Mary to save Hungary and he offer the country her. Hungary are sometimes named as Mary' Country. Stephen was canonized in 1083. His relics are the Saint Right (his arm), which is in Budapest in the St Stephen Church, and his skull relic, which is kept in Dubrovnik (Croatia). In 2000 and 2001 was the millennium of the Hungarian state, when thousands of celebrations were held countrywide.

St Imre Prince (1007 - 1031)

He was the son of St Stephan, who was the crown prince. St Stephan would have crowned him in 1031, but before the ceremony he became the victim of a hunting accident. His saint and virginal life was well known and in 1083 he was canonised as well. St Imre 'The saint prince with lily' became the pattern of Hungarian youth.

St Gerardo (Szent Gellért) (980 - 1046)

St Geraldo was not Hungarian, but his life closely connected with St Stephen and St Imre. St Gerardo was born in Venice. He had to go to the Holy Land, but his ship land at Istria from where he get Szekesfehervar, court of St Stephen king. He became the educator of the crown prince. In 1030 he became the bishop of Csanad. After the death of St Stephen he refused to serve the new king, but he predicted the pagan revolt and his death.

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