As it is the 940th anniversary of the knight king’s accession to the throne and the 825th anniversary of his canonisation the State Secretariat for National Policy declared the year 2017 as Saint Ladislaus anniversary year.
– The special status of Saint Ladislaus’ work and memory stems from the fact that besides his historical significance he offers a spiritual content for both the Hungarian nation and Christianity that is why he was canonised. He is a personality whose cult lives up to the present day since it left a mark on the current culture and religious life – as Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Elek Bartha put it during the 11 May press conference introducing the conference, praising the personal notability of the monarch. He also reported that currently with the involvement of several faculties the introduction of the subject of religious tourism is in preparation.
-Saint Ladislaus consolidated the Christian Hungary after it was shaken by the turbulent period of wars for the throne after Saint Stephen died. He was the monarch for whom we can thank our existence. His fate is connected to several other European countries: he was born in Poland, died near Nitra and was buried in Oradea. There is almost no state in the Carpathian-basin which his personality cannot be related to. His personality is still significant after centuries past since it means a connection point of the four countries of the Visegrád Fours in the 21st century – emphasised Árpád Potápi, Minister of State of the State Secretariat for National Policy.
-What was Europe like in the 11th century? What was Hungary like at that time and what kind of interactions it had with its neighbours? Among others these are the questions the scientific conference is searching for answers where the most significant institutes of higher education of arts were invited, besides the University of Debrecen there were lecturers from Budapest, Szeged, Pécs and Miskolc – informed us László Pósán, associate professor of the Institute of History. The main organiser of the conference highlighted that in Medieval Europe Hungary had a leading position and its effect and significance was determinative.
During the conference the Lendület (Impetus) research group of the Hungarian Academy of Science and the University of Debrecen examining the European political role and dynastic-diplomatic relations of Medieval Hungary can also report on the results of their research activity of several years. On the same date when the conference takes place at the University of Debrecen a 110 km-long pilgrimage on foot starts from Gyomaendrőd to Oradea which was organised by the initiative of the bishop of the Oradea Roman Catholic Diocese and which was joined by several academics and students of the university.
Connected to the national program series of the anniversary year a travelling exhibition introducing the life, work and international effect of the monarch opened in the Main building of the University of Debrecen which can be visited during the two days of the conference, as well.
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