Translated Sermon #27: Concio CXCII by Enyedi György

The full text of the translated sermon (in conjunction with Concio CXCIII) is published in print by the Journal of Unitarian Universalist History, 2021, Volume XLIV, pages 94-113. In accordance with the publishing contract the full text of the translated sermon is now available on this website as Translated Sermon #2. From the main page of unitariantorch.com select the horizontal line “Translated Transylvanian Unitarian Sermons”, and scroll to and click on “SermonConcioCXCII”

If you wish to see the back to back translation of Concio CXCII and CXCIII together with the expert historical analysis of Dr. Lovas Borbala, then please contact the Journal for a copy ($15). Dr Lovas Borbala is a historian who specializes in the Unitarian sermonic literature of the XVIth century,

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 represents a  continuation of the teachings of David Ferenc, who wrote  and preached about the reasoning why Antitrinitarians (today’s Unitarians) find the concept of the Trinity unacceptable.  This sermon relies on the verses 1-6 of Psalm 2 to make the Antitrinitarian argument that Jesus Christ is not a person of the Godhead.  Enyedi wrote and preached this sermon under the extreme stress of persecution of the Unitarian Church in the form of confiscations of property, and forced catholization of Unitarians.

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 around 1597, and enjoy this gem of a sermon, available the first time in English.

Translated Sermon #26: With God, in the Service of Mankind by Szabó Dezső

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: SermonWithGodintheServiceofMankind.

Summary of sermon: This sermon was written in 1971.   The sermon is urging us to follow the command of Jesus to the disciples in Mark 10: 42-44, and dedicate our lives to the service of everyone. The author passes down to us the flame of commitment to service.  The circumstances of the writer of this sermon is also something to think about.  Szabó Dezső was an ordained unitarian minister in the village of Nagyajta until 1959, when he was arrested on charges that he committed acts that challenged the ruling communist order. He was sentenced to 20 years of prison.  He received amnesty, and then he eventually became a minister in Kolozsvár.   It is a magnificent expression of dignity, and following the ideal of Jesus when Szabó Dezső responds with the words of this sermon to the monumental injustice perpetrated on him. His grandson, Korodi Alpár, is a teacher of history in the János Zsigmond Unitárius Kollegium (Unitarian High School) in Kolozsvár.  The Nagyajta Unitárius Egyházközség is partnering with the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin.

Translated Sermon #25: Turning Toward God by Tódor Csaba

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: SermonTurningTowardGod.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2009.   The sermon interprets the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus as described in the Book of John, Chapter 3, verses 2-10; it encourages us to go the extra mile, to turn toward God, and to become someone who is born of the Spirit.    Tódor Csaba is an ordained Transylvanian unitarian minister serving at the Székelykeresztúr church.  They are partnered with the First Parish in Concord, Massachusetts.    Tódor Csaba was a Starr King School of Ministry Balazs scholar in 2004-2004. He is a contributor to the practical theology booklets titled Unitárius Szószék.

Translated Sermon #23: The Word of Life by Simén Domokos

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: SermonTheWordofLife.

Summary of the sermon:This sermon challenges us to measure our speech, our communications against the “word of life” of Jesus. Simén Domokos passes down his flame of enthusiasm to us by imploring us to make an effort to live up to that high standard. The sermon was written in 1990, the year after the revolution toppled the Communist rule and its restrictions on the Transylvanian Unitarian Church. The sermon, in a way, is a reminder that the example of Jesus is eternal, and his words are relevant even to those who were distracted by the words of the Communist regime.  In 2020, the relevance of the sermon to social media is unmistakable.

Simén Domokos was a minister in the town of Csikszereda till 2001; he passed away in 2006. The Csikszereda church is partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY.

 

Translated Sermon #22: I Believe in the Eternal Life by Dr. Szabó Árpád

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: SermonIBelieveintheEternalLife.

Summary of sermon: The topic of this Easter sermon is the promise of eternal life, the promise of rebirth as  a person and as a community.  Dr. Szabó Árpád asks “Can we become the people of Easter?” The affirmative answer is spelled out for us.

Dr. Szabó Árpád was the 30th bishop of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church. He studied at Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1977-78;  he was an active participant in the affairs of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU); he was awarded the Louis C. Cornish “Living the Mission” award by the UU Partner Church Council in 2007. He passed away in 2010.

Translated Sermon #21: Concio XCIV 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: SermonConcioXCIV.

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 was a constant task in Enyedi’s life: encouragement of the persecuted Transylvanian Unitarian believers that despite their small numbers, and despite the strife that historical events brought to their doorstep, there is a great reward is awaiting them.  This is kind of sermon that earned Enyedi the title “Unitarian Plato”, because he is teaching with all his ability, no holds barred; observe the range of Bible quotes he deploys to support his message!

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 around 1594, and enjoy this gem of a sermon, available the first time in English.

Translated Sermon #20: The Treasure of the Church by Nyitrai Berta

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: SermonTheTreasureoftheChurch.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 1973.   The sermon is using a personal story about the Transylvanian Unitarian Hymnal to reveal what is the most important, essential treasures of the church.  Both the building, and the church in the heart.  The circumstances of the writer of this sermon is also something to think about.  Nyitrai Berta was the wife of Nyitrai Mózes (the unitarian minister in the village of Homoródkarácsonyfalva).  Berta was a minister, and she also was, what we would call, a choir director at the church.   She was arrested in 1959 on charges that she committed acts that challenged the ruling communist order. She was sentenced to 25 years of prison.  She received amnesty in 1964, and then followed her husband who became the minister in the village of Vadad.    Her grandson, Dr. Kecskés Csaba, is currently the minister of the unitarian church at Marosvásárhely Kövesdomb.  That is the partner of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Translated Sermon #19: Concio CXV 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: SermonConcioCXV.

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 could be a motto for Enyedi’s life: learning about the words of Christ, and teaching and admonishing others.  The discussion includes reasoning about why go to church, why there is so much to learn about the word of Christ, how can we learn about the words of Christ when he is no longer with us, why reading the Bible in in the native language expands its interpretations, why we ought to teach each other, what you should do when it comes to sing in church, but you can’t sing,.  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 around 1594, and enjoy this gem of a sermon, available the first time in English.

Translated Sermon #18: Our Fulfillment by Nyitrai Mózes

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: SermonOurFulfillment.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 1991.   The sermon is urging us to do all we can to reach the highest level of development of our souls: become one with God. Because Jesus,a flesh and blood human, has reached that level, we have a path pointed out for us.  The circumstances of the writer of this sermon is also something to think about.  Nyitrai Mózes was an ordained unitarian minister in the village of Homoródkarácsonyfalva until 1958, when he was arrested on charges that he committed acts that challenged the ruling communist order. He was sentenced to 10 years of prison.  He received amnesty in 1964, and then he became the minister in the village of Vadad.   I wonder if the ideals explained in this sermon had helped him to maintain his dignity during that time of imprisonment, and after his release when he decided to continue to serve others through his ministry.  His grandson, Dr. Kecskés Csaba, is currently the minister of the unitarian church at Marosvásárhely Kövesdomb.  That is the partner of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Translated Sermon #17: Your Soul, the Good Soil by Székely Kinga Réka

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: SermonYourSoultheGoodSoil.

Summary of sermon: The sermon was written in 2016.   The sermon is based on the parable of the sower; whichever is the current state of our soul, we have the power to change it to be the good soil that will produce a crop.    Székely Kinga Réka is an ordained Transylvanian unitarian minister serving as minister at the Homoródszentpéter church.  They are partnered with the Unity Unitarian Church in st Paul Minnesota.    Székely Kinga Réka was a Balazs scholar in 1999-2000.

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