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: Concio Lucae XIII.
Summary of sermon: The author 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.
In this sermon the Unitarian Plato discusses the importance of repentance of our ungodly deeds and turning towards God, because the parable of this sermon tells us what happens if we fail to do that. In Concio Lucae XIII v. 6. Enyedi György used the New Testament parable of the vineyard and the owner who looks for good fruit on the trees, and if he doesn’t see good fruit then will have the tree cut down. Because today we, the gentiles, are the trees in God’s vineyard, we ought to listen to the admonishments of the vineyard workers (such as Enyedi) to refrain from ungodliness. If the people of Transylvania doesn’t do that, then, after a brief waiting period, God will surely cut the trees, the people of Transylvania, down. Because of the turbulent and violent historical events that started in 1593, Enyedi feared for the fate of his homeland, Transylvania, and found solace and advice on the pages of the Bible. This sermon was written in June of 1594, and delivered just about the same time. By that time Enyedi felt that only supernatural help will save Transylvania from devastation. What were those historical events? I give you a brief description below.
There is a very special historical background for the series of 19 sermons that start with Concio 10 translated on this web site as Sermon #47. From the beginning of 1593, under the rule of Prince Zsigmond Bathori, the Principality of Transylvania experienced a monumental internal power struggle in order to decide what foreign policy the Principality should conduct with regard to the Turkish Empire. Since the 1550s Transylvania was a tribute-paying, but unoccupied component of the Turkish Empire. That peaceful existence came to an end in 1593.
In 1593, after 25-year pause, the Turkish sultan started a new military offensive in the Hapsburg-ruled remnant of the Hungarian Kingdom (well West of Transylvania), and the Hapsburg Emperor Rudolph requested help from surrounding countries. In late 1593 there was initial military success against the Turkish army. Prince Zsigmond Bathori, saying that he wants to be the part of eliminating the Turkish occupation from Hungary, sent emissaries to Rudolph and to the Pope in order to become part of their alliance. In February of 1594 the official pact was signed making the Principality of Transylvania part of the Holy League with the obligation to coordinate military action with other participants.
The Transylvanian Diet never approved the war-plans of the Prince, nonetheless, Prince Zsigmond Bathori, took unauthorized action, and in March of 1594 attacked a Turkish-occupied town West of Transylvania. Because the promised military help to Rudolph never fully materialized, the Transylvanian forces were left unaided by the League to face a much larger Turkish dispatchment. Enyedi delivered this sermon in March of 1594. In May of 1594 the Prince requested again approval of his plans (and budget) from the Diet which yet again refused.
The Transylvanian forces were eventually defeated by the Turkish army, and at the July 1594 Diet Prince Zsigmond Bathori abdicated. However, by August 1594 several generals declared their loyalty to the Prince, and he returned to Kolozsvar. The Prince then captured the leaders of the anti-war faction of the Diet, and had them executed by beheading or garroting. The Diet, thus, was forced to approve the war-plans of the Prince, and the wealth of the executed nobles were use to shore up the war budget.
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 the third Bishop of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church. The translation time machine will take you back to late 1500s, and allows you to listen to this gem of a sermon, available the first time in English.
