Translated Sermon #40: From Community a Cathedral by Józsa István Lajos.

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonFromCommunityaCathedral.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2017. The topic of the sermon is the need to form a community from believers, and how that is comparable to the building of a cathedral from stones. An interesting aspect of this sermon is that it has an entire poem at the end of it. The author is currently the minister at the Unitarian church of Torda in Transylvania. In the 1990s he has participated in the movement “Unitárius Szószék” (Unitarian Pulpit) to reinvigorate sermon writing in Transylvania. The partner church of Torda is the First Parish Church in Weston, MA.

 

Translated Sermon # 39: Concio Mark 16 by Enyedi György

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonConcioMark16.

Summary of sermon: The author of the sermon deserves as much attention as the topic.  Enyedi György was the third bishop of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, until his death in 1597. He is called in some Hungarian language literature as the “Unitarian Plato”, because most of his writings and sermons focuses on the explanations of Bible verses.  He is noted for using everyday, mundane metaphors to teach the congregation about the meaning behind the words of Christ.  Hungarian translations of the Bible began to spread in his time, and it was important to teach churchgoers on their mother tongue about it.

The topic of the sermon is the resurrection of Christ as described the Apostle Mark. The sermon was most likely preached in Kolozsvár at Easter time of 1594. Enyedi György places emphasis on describing the role of the women in receiving and spreading the good news  of the resurrection. He also points out that we derive a peace of mind knowing that just as Christ was resurrected so will we, believers, be  resurrected.

Enyedi György was born in the town of Nagyenyed in Transylvania, and the current Unitarian Church there is partnered with the First Unitarian Church of Louisville, Kentucky.

In this sermon you look through a window into late XVIth century Transylvania, and hear the words of a contemporary of Shakespeare.  So, sit back, relax, allow your time machine to take you back to 1594, and enjoy this gem of a sermon, available the first time in English.

Translated Sermon #38: Celebratory Sermon by Kriza János

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonCelebratorySermon.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2022 by Kriza János. The sermon was delivered at the worship service that included the Lord’s Supper, as this service consecrated a newly built Transylvanian Unitarian church building. This new church is a replica of the 18th century church located in Nyárádgálfalva, Transylvania (in Romania). The replica church was built in the Skanzen of Szentendre, Hungary, to be a part of a building complex that displays various aspects of Transylvanian cultural heritage. The original church at Nyárádgálfalva is described as one of the most picturesque among Transylvanian Unitarian churches. The interior has painted wooden casettes on the ceiling.   Kriza János is the current head of the Hungarian District of the Hungarian Unitarian Church.  The sermon reminds us that when Christian Unitarians partake in the Lord’s Supper they are keeping alive one of the two sacraments Jesus himself practiced, and all the disciples of Jesus would recognize as familiar to them. The Unitarian church is partnered with All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City.

Translated Sermon #37: The True Joy by Benedek Ágoston

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonTheTrueJoy.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 1976 by Benedek Ágoston.  He started as a Unitarian  minister in the town of Beszterce, but in 1959 he was arrested by the Romanian Secret Service (Securitat) of the communist state, and on charge of anti-state activities he was sentenced to hard labor camp. He was released in 1963, and then he worked with the congregations of Homoródjánosfalva, Nagyenyed, and Kolozsvár.  This sermon was written several years after his release; he used the Bible text of Psalms 32:11.  The sermon explains that the true joy in our life is coming from honorable humane behavior, in-depth thinking, support of our neighbors, and the carrying out of good deeds. Benedek Ágoston passed away in 2002.

Translated Sermon #36: The Essence of the Christian Faith by Kovács Lajos

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonTheEssenceofChristianFaith.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 1972 by Kovács Lajos on the occasion of his inauguration as the 28th bishop of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church. The essence of the Christian faith is traced back to the dual commandment of Jesus, as he stated it in Mark 12:28-31, the Scripture quote of this sermon. The sermon emphasizes that both parts of the dual commandment are inseparable from the Unitarian faith. Kovács Lajos passed away in 1994.

Translated Sermon #35: Thus Far the Lord has Helped Us by Rácz Norbert Zsolt

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonThusFartheLordhasHelpedUs.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2018 by Rácz Norbert Zsolt on the occasion of the unveiling of the  full size statue of Dávid Ferenc.   The statue is located near the Downtown Unitarian Church in Kolozsvár where Rácz Norbert Zsolt is the lead minister. The sermon uses the example of Samuel erecting the Ebenezer stone as a metaphor to describe the current situation that lead to the erection of the statue. Zsolt is urging us to keep the memory of this victory of the erection of the statue, so future generations will believe and will trust in the Lord and in His providence.  The partner church for the owntown Unitarian Church in Kolozsvár is King’s Chapel in Boston.

Translated Sermon #34: Bishopric inauguration sermon by Varga Béla

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonInauguration VargaBela.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 1938 by Dr. Varga Béla. He was elected bishop of the Hungarian Unitarian Church in 1938, and stayed in office till 1940. He returned to teaching philosophy and theology from 1940 till his death in 1942.  In his inauguration sermon Bishop Varga identifies the cause of restlessness and hopelessness in society as the consequence of mankind losing sight of each person being a child and coworker of God. “Only unconditional love can do away with the restlessness” he writes.

Translated Sermon #33: Bishopric consecration sermon of Kovács István

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonConsecrationKovacsIstvan.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2022 by Kovács István. He was elected bishop of the Hungarian Unitarian Church in 2021, but the coronavirus restrictions delayed his consecration till 2022. In his consecration sermon Bishop Kovács calls on all of us to lead a prayerful life, and to seek the freedom afforded to us by the Holy Spirit that directs us to serve each other.

Translated Sermon #32: True Fairy Tale by Lázár Levente

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: SermonTrueFairyTale.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2009 by Lázár Levente. He is the minister at the Unitarian Church of Korond, in Transylvania. He was a Balazs scholar at the Starr King School for the Ministry in 2010-2011. The Korond Church is partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, FL. The sermon includes the description of the birth of Jesus phrased as a fairy tale.  Levente urges us to use our inner child to accept and believe the Christmas story in the Gospel, and to believe instead of asking verification minute details in the story.

Translated Sermon #31: Funeral Sermon The Origin and Attributes of Justice by Szentábrahámi Lombárd Mihály

For full text go to the menu on top of the UnitarianTorch home page, click on Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons line, and then click on the title: FuneralSermonBiroSamuel.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 1721 by Szentábrahámi Lombárd Mihály, and was preached in Latin over the casket of homoródszentmártoni Bíró Sámuel.   The title: “The Origin and Attributes of Justice” is very fitting, because the deceased was a judge of the Royal Court of Law.  The time period represents the height of the effort of the Habsburg Empire to rid Transylvania of Unitarians through forced catholicization, confiscation of property, denial of book printing, and the denial of promotion to high offices. Homoródszentmártoni Bíró Sámuel was one of those rare instances where a Unitarian was promoted to be councilor at the Royal Court of Law, so his death was a serious blow to the cause of Unitarians.  The preacher became the Bishop of Transylvanian Unitarian church in 1738. He is best know as the author of the most detailed explanations regarding Transylvanian Unitarian theology.

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