Academic literature on the topic 'Catholic Church. Eparchy of Hajdudorog (Hungary)'

The relationships between two Greek Catholic Provinces: the Metropolitanate of Galicia and the Eparchy of Mukachevo under occupation regimes, are highlighted in the article. During this difficult period in the history of both church institutions, cooperation between them was almost impossible since the Metropolitanate of Galicia was already under the Soviet regime while the Eparchy of Mukachevo became part of Hungary. Metropolitan of Galicia Andrey Sheptytsky was forced to fight attacks on the Greek Catholic Church by the "Soviets" and Bishop of Mukachevo Oleksandr Stoyka after receiving the status of "one's own right" ("Ecclesia sui juris") by the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo in 1937, was aimed at full autonomy of the eparchy. The author pays special attention to the incident with the arrest of monks from the Order of St. Basil the Great by the Hungarian authorities. The author describes the process of their release, in which bishops Oleksandr Stoyka and Miklosh Dudash, as well as archpriest Leontii Dolhii (Mariiapovchanskyi (Máriapócs) monastery), took an active part. After analyzing the letters of the mentioned bishops to various government structures of the Kingdom of Hungary, the author concluded that they made every effort to get the Basilian monks out of prison as soon as possible. After the first appeals, the arrested monks were transferred from prison to the Jesuit Church in Budapest, and later, until the moment of their liberation, they lived only in monasteries. Finally, the Basilian monks were released and returned to serve in the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo in August 1942. They were also allowed to engage in missionary activities and participate in mass events. Based on the analysis of archival sources, namely correspondence between Galician priests (who found themselves in refugee camps in Hungary, Austria and Germany) and Mukachevo bishops, we learn about the fate of these pastors, as well as the fact that Bishop Teodor Romzha accepted them for service in the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo. Unfortunately, after the arrival of Soviet authority, Galician priests were arrested: they were accused of anti-Soviet activities and cooperation with the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and sentenced to imprisonment in correctional camps. The researcher introduced into scientific circulation a series of epistolary sources concerning the history of relations between the two ecclesiastical provinces in 1939 – 1944.

After two centuries of Bulgarian domination, Belgrade came under Byzantum empire rule in 1018. Together with other fifteen cities, Belgrade was mentioned as a bishop centre in a thorough act of the Ohrid Archbishopric, the first sigilion of Tzar Vasilije II Macedonian, from 1019. Belgrade episcopate also comprised Church centres in Gradac, Uzice, Bela Crkva and Glavetin with 40 clergymen and 40 village mayors, which means that it was one of the richest diocese of the Ohrid Archbisopric. Since Belgrade came under Byzantium rule, there have not been any big changes in the character of Church authorities as the Ohrid Archdiocese was established on the spiritual and cultural traditions of The first Bulgaran empire and Samuil`s state, its head was called an archbishop of Bulgaria and in terms of jurisdiction, it was completely independent of Contantinople patriarch. Short reign of Hungarian king Salomon in Belgrade (1071/72) did not lead to any changes in Church organistaion, although certain bishop Franco was mentioned by the King`s counselors. The consolidation of the Catholic Church organisation was enabled only from the fourth decade of the XIII century when Belgrade belonged to the Hungarian king. No later than the beginning of March 1232, according to the decision of the Pope Gregory IX of the Orthodox Eparchy, Belgrade and Branicevo were united with the newly established Episcopate of Syrmia which was founded as a missionary one with the clearly defined aim of the spread of Catholicism among the population of the other part of Syrmia (the regions on the south of the Sava, between the rivers of Drina and Kolubara) which, not long time ago, had been a part of the Diocese of Syrmia under the jurisdiction of the Ohrid Archbishopric. In the period of 1284-1389, Belgrade was under Serbian rule. King Dragutin built the Temple, the headquarters of the bishop of Macva of Serbian Church with the famous Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, a well-known relic from the period of Byzantium rule, and some other churches, so there were many Orthodox priests in Belgrade and its surroundings. Episcopate of Macva Serbian Church was established in the period of 1284-1290, and it was situated on the country of Macva, i.e. Syrmia. The river Sava was on its northern border, the river of Drina was on the western one, while the Kolubara and the slopes of Avala and Kosmaj were on the eastern border, and the territory reached Crna Gora and Rudnik on the south. Its territory covered the regional unit of Macva only partially. On the basis of the data written down by the Archbishop Danilo II, an expert in Church issues of the time, it is quite uncertain whether there was a metropolitan`s residence in Belgrade. In order to solve the puzzle, some hypotheses were outlined in the reference to the political circumstances and Church practices. The firmly established organisation of the Serbian Church endangered the rights of Belgrade Diocese of the Roman Church; that is why the pope Nicholas IV (1288-1292) and John XXII (1316-1334) reacted in order to establish the Catholic jurisdiction. Although Belgrade bishops Martin and Benedict were mentioned in Latin sources from the nineties of the XIV century, Albensis capitulum, Magister Theodor Albensis Ecclesie Prepositus, Magister Demetrius Canonicus Albensis, those were only titlings. The moment of the formal establishment of the already founded clerical organisation was patiently awaited for. It happened after Belgrade had fallen under Hungarian rule again. Hungarian king Charles Robert was active in the strengthening of the position of the Roman Church. After 1319, the headquarters of the Macva bishop was relocated from Belgrade, but the Episcopate of Macva of the Serbian Church seemed to have continued its activities. The counties of Ub, Nepricava, Rabas, Pepeljevac, Ljig, Toplica, Upper and Lower Obna and the region of Crna Gora and Rudnik were under its jurisdiction, undoubtedly under the authority of the Serbian King. Most likely the Serbian bishop of Macva also had jurisdiction over the Orthodox clergy and the religious people in the regional units of Macva which were returned to Hungary in 1319.