tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post8037595323946161124..comments2024-03-22T15:59:39.498-04:00Comments on The Genevan Psalter: The Hungarian Reformed ChurchDavid Koyzishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09994743332307454241noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-24426572345522226272017-09-17T14:08:02.100-04:002017-09-17T14:08:02.100-04:00Note too that the "Közép- és Kelet Európai Re...Note too that the "Közép- és Kelet Európai Református Presbiteriánus Egyház" (or <br />Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe) is a continuation of faithful orthodox Hungarian Reformed churches, which organized after the the "communist regime change".<br />http://www.reformatus.net/en/congregations<br />Baushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15081376115291852909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-29411780529727210002013-02-25T02:25:32.249-05:002013-02-25T02:25:32.249-05:00David, Yes, that's the one. Some info here:
ht...David, Yes, that's the one. Some info here:<br />http://www.kiralyhagomellek.ro/honlap/indexenus.html<br /><br />The Unitarians seem to have had a strong presence in Transylvania. I share your surprise! What is not clear to me is the extent to which a common theological training is received, or perhaps faculty members are specific to the churches.<br /><br />Yes, I would say confessional distinctives are maintained. The Heidelberg catechism is taught for confirmation, and ordinands are examined on it.<br /><br />One thing I missed in my earlier reply is that in addition to the Hungarian-speaking Lutheran church, there is also a Saxon Lutheran church in Transylvania.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420676557428116309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-11518346258043982112013-02-24T13:58:38.698-05:002013-02-24T13:58:38.698-05:00Stephen, is this the Kolozsvári Református Kollégi...Stephen, is this the Kolozsvári Református Kollégium or a different institution? It seems rather odd that the Unitarians would be part of it as well. Would you say that the Reformed and Lutherans in that part of the world maintain their respective confessional distinctives?David Koyzishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994743332307454241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-37929063360788808512013-02-24T13:50:55.532-05:002013-02-24T13:50:55.532-05:00David, Yes, the Evangelical Lutheran Church exists...David, Yes, the Evangelical Lutheran Church exists in Transylvania too, but it is very small compared to the Reformed Church. There are friendly relations between the Protestant churches, seen for example in the fact that the Reformed, Lutheran and, somewhat interestingly, Unitarian, churches share a Theological college in Kolosvar (Cluj). The Lutherans in my wife's home town have an afternoon service in the Reformed Church (no building of their own).Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420676557428116309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-34587321641601060812013-02-24T08:13:26.618-05:002013-02-24T08:13:26.618-05:00Stephen, I know there is a distinct Evangelical Lu...Stephen, I know there is a distinct Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary proper. Is there one in Transylvania, or do the Reformed represent the only protestant presence there?David Koyzishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994743332307454241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-87921460061523934922013-02-24T06:09:07.493-05:002013-02-24T06:09:07.493-05:00Hi David, I'm not Hungarian myself, so no I...Hi David, I'm not Hungarian myself, so no I'm just plain Stephen.<br /><br />Your friend is probably right about 14 years being the age, I was taking my best guess from what I have personally observed.<br /><br />Some have postulated that the lack of major splits actually owes something to the persecution of the communist years - it helped keep the people together. Certainly in Transylvania to this day, the Reformed Church still plays a key role in maintaining (Hungarian) identity.<br /><br />My understanding of Luther's SC is that it is used in some parts of Transylvania proper, not all. In fact I would like to research more into the history of this myself! So I'm afraid I can't answer your question about the inconsistency in numbering. But my hunch is that, as you suggest, some of the practice goes back a long way and reflects a time before the final Lutheran/Reformed split.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420676557428116309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-6776946569386921922013-02-23T09:02:56.970-05:002013-02-23T09:02:56.970-05:00Might the presence of Luther's Catechism among...Might the presence of Luther's Catechism amongst the Hungarians' confessional standards indicate that this church dates from before the final split between Lutherans and Reformed?David Koyzishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994743332307454241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-89803808267198206682013-02-23T08:10:22.978-05:002013-02-23T08:10:22.978-05:00Thank you, Stephen (or Istvan?). My friend in the ...Thank you, Stephen (or Istvan?). My friend in the Calvin Synod received this response from a colleague in Hungary who is apparently a descendant of Molnár: children are communed "only after confirmation, around Pentecost, about age 14, although some have been confirmed at age 12, we always have chosen age 14."<br /><br />It is remarkable that a Reformed Church has remained intact institutionally for nearly five centuries, especially when one considers all the negative forces, such as communism, which could have produced multiple schisms.<br /><br />As for Luther's Small Catechism being used by the Church in Transylvania, I think I must have known that at some point, although it strikes me as a little odd given the differences between this and the Heidelberg, e.g., in the numbering of the Ten Commandments. How would they go about reconciling the divergences between the two?David Koyzishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994743332307454241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-47442731413382507812013-02-23T04:40:29.067-05:002013-02-23T04:40:29.067-05:00The Hungarian Reformed Church is a fascinating sub...The Hungarian Reformed Church is a fascinating subject, yet in comparison to (say) the Dutch Reformed churches it is relatively unknown outside the country. I know a little since my wife is Hungarian Reformed. As far as I know it is the only Reformed Church which has survived more or less intact, without splits, since the Reformation period.<br /><br />Another thing that is interesting is that in addition to the confessional standards you mention, the Church in Transylvania still makes use of Luther's Small Catechism.<br /><br />As for communion, the usual practice is that children (previously baptised) undergo confirmation around the age of 12-13, and are then admitted to the table.<br /><br />StephenStephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420676557428116309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-23633749535367236292013-02-22T17:19:13.779-05:002013-02-22T17:19:13.779-05:00I have posed your question to a minister in the Ca...I have posed your question to a minister in the Calvin Synod, and he says that, to his knowledge, the church in Hungary does not practise paedocommunion.David Koyzishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994743332307454241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991015405231004785.post-68681956327371903042013-02-22T12:01:19.802-05:002013-02-22T12:01:19.802-05:00Does the Reformed Church in Hungary also practice ...Does the Reformed Church in Hungary also practice paedocommunion? I wondered if that was another practice unique to this branch of the Reformed Church. My understanding was that the Hussite churches practiced paedocommunion.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023129245552094356noreply@blogger.com