As we all know today is the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven. It is also a very significant day in Hungarian history. Today is the day the King Saint Stephen on his death bed with no heirs to leave the kingdom of Hungary prayed for the Virgin Mary to accept Hungary and become the Queen of Hungary so now you can see why it is so important of a day. I guess a two fold day of significance.
In fact at St. Matthias Church in Budapest at the altar there is the Holy Mother with the Hungarian crown on her. (sorry couldn't find a better picture). Here are some details from the church's site about the altar,
In the middle of the main chancel, which is a tetradecagon with seven closed sides, Frigyes Schulek created an altar with early Gothic features. Above the tabernaculum there is a cross also created by Schulek, two scenes from the life of Mary on the sides: her introduction at the church of Jerusalem and the visit of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The higher section of the altar is dominated by Our Lady with the crown, floating in a wreath of light: on 15th August 2000 the Lady of Hungarians was crowned with a duplicate of the sacred crown, with the Pope's approval and blessing, brought on foot from Rome by members of the church community. Through the wreath of light around Our Lady a vague image of the Saviour on the Christ window, illustrating the ancient rule of religion: "per Mariam ad Iesum" - through Mary to Jesus.
Take a tour of this beautiful church ( I have been there and it is spectacular!). Here is the link
This holy week is special for Hungarians as we will also be celebrating the feast day of St. Stephen. So I will try to do my best and provide a little more history next week. Until then as always, take care and God Bless!
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