Religions in Hungary A majority of Hungarians became followers of the Christian faith during the eleventh century.

Saint Stephen I, Hungarys first king, followed Western Christianity. Hungary predominately remained Catholic until the 16th century. During the 16th century, the Reformation took place and resulted in a change in faith. First Lutheranism and soon to follow Calvinism became the faith/religion of almost the entire Hungarian population. In the late 16th, the Jesuits led a counterreformation in Hungary as well as founded several educational institutions (such as Peter Pazmany Catholic University, which is the oldest university in Hungary). By the 17th, once again most Hungarians become predominately Catholic. The role of Christianity and Calvinism/Lutheranism has heavily impacted the social development of Hungary, such as the rise of the Communist and the Holocaust. As the Communism party receiving more of a following, the Hungarian churches faced extensive harassment and persecution. During the Communism regime in 1940, if you had a leadership role in a church you were deported or they left before they faced consequences. Free of speech or religion was non-existent. The Communists discouraged religion during the 1940s. Around 1960s, the Communist sought to stay in power and they ultimately started to somewhat relax their antireligious policies. Prior to World War II, Hungary was home to over 450,000 Jews. When the war broke out, Hungarian supported Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany with a false dream in mind; Hungary had hoped they would regain its lost provinces. Hitler took control over Hungary in March 1944. During World War II, more than 550,00 Hungarian Jews had been deported to death camps (Hintz 45). Raul Wallenburg, a Swedish diplomat in Hungary, saved the lives of 100,000 Jews by hiding them or giving them forged Swedish passports (Hintz 46). The Communist regime in Hungary and World War II affected the social development of Hungary became prior to the Communist regime Hungary had a freedom of speech that allowed them to develop their own social identity. The Communist absolutely destroyed Hungarians to practice their faith so practicing a faith was risking deporting, harassment or even death. Hungary is home to several big churches of the Christian faith. Cave Church is a Christian church is Budapest. Cave Church is a unique grotto which is cared for by Hungarian Paulite order of the monks (Sacred Destinations para.3) . This cave, on Gellert Hill, was actually the originally home to Saint Istvan. Saint Istvam was a hermit monk who is most known for how he cured the sick with thermal waters that came from a sprung in front of the cave. It was founded in 1926, as from an expansion from the hermits cave. In 1951, the Communist had secret police arrest the all of the Pauline Monks at Cave Church. Ferenc Vezer, the superior Pauline mink, was condemned to death, but the other Pauline monks received a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. St. Stephens Basilica in Budapest shelters a sacred relic of King Stephen I and is the largest church in Hungary (Sacred Destintions para.1). The Bazilika construction was completed in 1905, over 50 years of construction, but the dome collapsed in 1868. The church was rebuilt, and it was considered to be so sturdy that it holds important documents and artwork during the bombings of World War II. The government during the Communist regime heavily impacted religions in Hungary. Essentially, the Communists sought to have a antireligious policy. For example, in 1951 the Communist secret place invaded Cave Church in Budapest to arrest all of the Pauline Monks. The superior, Ferenc Vezer was condemned to death while the other monks were imprisoned for 5 to 10 years. During this time, showing or any time of public displaying of a religion could endanger you since you were going against the antireligious Communist policy. Hungary was controlled by Hilter in March 1944. Over 400,000 Jews were sent to death camps. Due to the Holocaust, the Jewish population in Hungary dramatically decreased. Citaions: Hintz, M. (1988). Enchantment of the world: Hungary. Chicago, IL: Children's Press.

Sacred Destinations. (2013). Cave church, budapest. Retrieved from http://www.sacreddestinations.com/hungary/budapest-cave-church Sacred Destinations. (n.d.). St. stephen's basilica, budapest. Retrieved from http://www.sacreddestinations.com/hungary/budapest-st-stephens-basilica

Religions of the Hungarian People (2001)

Roman Catholic Calvinist Lutheran Greek Catholic Other Christian Other/Unspecified

Central Intelligence Agency. (2013). Hungary. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/hu.html