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Background to TRAC's The first step to understanding the TRAC Mission work in this area is to understand where this area is. The Mezöség area is located in Central Transylvania. This area may be one of the hardest hit regions by the effects of communist rule. With mountainous borders, and next to no infrastructure in place, this isolated area, and its congregations struggle with daily life. Diaspora...what is it? Diaspora is a phenomenon of modern Transylvania that is the result of the blending of diverse cultural and religious beliefs in a small region. Diaspora refers to a group that, although still living in the native area of their ancestors, has become a minority. In short, Diaspora is a process that strips a people of their identity. To truly understand this phenomenon, a little background history is needed. Background
The First World War effectively caused the division of western Europe and the Byzantine cultures and churches to occur at the Carpation Mountains prior to the 19th century. Near the end of the 19th century, Moldavia and Wallachia became united. In 1918 Romania managed to split Transylvania from Hungary, and finally unite it with the other two provinces. This union brought together two different nations with very different historical, cultural and religious background and heritage. A Hungarian minority lived alongside reformed people. In the past 80 years, Byzantine-style cathedrals were built along side the 6 to 7 century-old gothic churches. The Hungarian-speaking Reformed Church in Transylvania struggled to survive through this period. History
16th Century
The Hungarian-speaking Reformed Church was first founded in the 16th century, appearing predominantly in the Northern and Transylvania areas. The pure Hungarian population was not as receptive to the teachings presented in these churches. The early Hungarian reformers were influenced by the teachings of the Swiss Reformation, and since the middle of that century the Hungarian Reformed Church has been a separate entity both in doctrine and organization. The incorporation of the Second Helvetic Confession and the Heidelerg Catechism became accepted parts of doctrine and religious education. During the development of the Hungarian Reformed Church in the 16th century, Calvinistic Reformation failed to transfer two factors into the Hungarian reformers practices; their form of worship and form of government. For a long time their worship retained elements of the Roman Catholic Church, although not as much as Lutheran practices. Despite vast differences in doctrine and organization, the church government on the other hand, developed identically with the Lutheran Church. In general, the consistorial-superintendential system of German churches was copied. Local congregations were governed by the ministers, village landlords and town magistrates. Superior authorities were established as Seniorates or Decanates with Seniors or Deans at their head. From these groups, according to geographical or political units, or former Roman Catholic dioceses were Superintendencies with Superintendents at their head, who were also called bishops. 17th Century
The church was strengthened in the 17th century. The great Calvinist Princes were responsible for founding schools, congregations, churches and the rebuilding of existing ones. Bethlen G’bor, Prince of Transylvania founded a university at Gyulafehervar which has served as a superior educational facility for centuries producing many pastors and teachers. This school was moved to Nagyenyed in 1662 because of Tartar and Turkish invasions. In the 17th century the institution of elders and presbyters as in the Geneva model began to emerge into congregations in Hungary and Transylvania. 18th-19th Century
Finally in the 18th century the participation of laymen in church administration at all levels became universally established. The seniorates and the superintendencies met at Synods, but no nationwide synod could be held in the Reformed Church. In 1881 a national synod and church came into being in the Reformed Church, but even then only survived for 40 years due to the peace treaty of the Trianon breaking the Reformed Church into several parts again. 20th Century
Near the beginning of the 20th century, Transylvania was joined to Romania, and this resulted in a separation of a Hungarian Church District. Under these conditions, the Church became fully dependant on the new state-power. In 1921 the reformed bishop had to travel to the new capitol at Bucharest to make a profession of allegiance and assure the Romanian state that the Reformed Church would comply with the state-order and serve the Romanian nation. World War II
Great difficulties began for the church with the advancement of the front line across Transylvania in 1944. Much of the church’s treasures and archives were destroyed during this time. Russian and Romanian soldiers made bonfires out of 16th and 17th century books. Many fled the region, and in some areas Transylvania evacuation was carried out by force. Nearly all people were dislocated, and it was under these conditions that the church again started to work. In the spring of 1945 an official letter from the Board of Directors empowered the bishop to get into contact with the Romanian government and ask permission to start church activities. The Romanian government acknowledged the Board of Directors as the leadership of the Hungarian-speaking Reformed church in Transylvania. This established firmly the state’s authority in control over the church, and allowed the state to easily interfere with its activities, at times even forbidding the bishop from taking part in some funeral services. Anybody who dared to establish the freedom of the church was discharged from their position. The Church Under Communist Rule
In the first years under communism, the church was allowed to function relatively freely. In 1948 a new law ordered churches to set up a new board, with the state keeping contact with it. All decisions made by this board and the state applied also to the individual congregations. Control by the state was applied even to the budget of the church. All church estates were taken by the state. At the end of the 40’s, communism gained strength. Atheistic Marxism spread as well and attacked the church with more violence. The church schools were nationalized and the church district lost over 400 primary schools as well as 16 Reformed Colleges and high schools. Charity institutions were also nationalized. Religious education was not allowed in state schools, and was only tolerated by pastors on Saturday. At that time state schools forced youngsters to take part in school activities on Saturdays. Theological education was performed within the Theological Institute, a building shared with the Unitarian and Lutheran churches. By the 1950’s the state was attempting to again increase its influence on the church, even attempting to gain possession of the Theological Institute. In 1956 the Hungarian revolution occurred with people rising in arms against the communist party. the Russian army arrived to Hungary and squelched the uprise, with thousands of executions and prison sentences resulting. The communist party in Romania accused the Hungarians of treason, wanting to rejoin Transylvania to Hungary. They also accused the church of plotting against the Romanian state, and many pastors, theology students and professors were imprisoned. By the mid 60’s bibles were not allowed to be taken into the country, hymn book publication was reduced, no church buildings were allowed to be built, and the number of theological students was regulated y the state. Major changes came about in 1989 with the fall of communist rule. The inhabitants of Transylvania, however, are still deeply effected and are finding recovery very difficult, especially in the villages. Their churches, most of which have stood for centuries, are now in danger of extinctions, and are often called "diaspora churches." |
Present day Romania is comprised of three provinces: Moldavia, Wallachia and Transylvania. Long ago, the first two were parts of the Byzantine civilization, while Transylvaniawas attached to the Hungarian kingdom. Around 1100 years ago, Stephen the 1st, the first real Christian Hungarian king came into power. He was instrumental in establishing the Roman Catholic Church in this area. This essentially connected Hungary and Transylvania to the intellectual and cultural ideas of Middle Ages Europe.