Halotti beszéd The original "Halotti beszéd és könyörgés" (Funeral Sermon and Prayer) is the oldest known and surviving contigu ous Hungarian text that dates back to the late 12th century. Its hand scribed ancient language carries the air of old scull and bones found among ruins. As a distant echo, here is a memento of a person who has just passed away; a unique individual, Kosztolányi Dezsı reminds us, as we all are. Since in November we remember our departed loved ones, this piece of poetry intends to connect it with our current biography of the poet in this issue.
Halotti beszéd Keresheted ıt, nem leled, hiába, Kosztolányi Dezsı se itt, se Fokföldön, se Ázsiába, a múltba sem és a gazdag jövıben Látjátok feleim, egyszerre meghalt akárki megszülethet már, csak ı nem. Többé soha és itt hagyott minket magunkra. Megcsalt. Ismertük ıt. Nem volt nagy és kiváló, nem gyúl ki halvány furcsa mosolya. csak szív, a mi szívünkhöz közel álló. Szegény a forgandó, tündér szerencse, De nincs már. hogy e csodát újólag megteremtse. Akár a föld. Jaj, összedılt Édes barátaim, olyan ez éppen, a kincstár. mint az az ember ottan a mesében. Az élet egyszer csak ırája gondolt, Okuljatok mindannyian e példán. mi meg mesélni kezdtünk róla: "Hol volt..." Ilyen az ember. Egyedüli példány. majd rázuhant a mázsás, szörnyő menny bolt, Nem élt belıle több és most sem él s mint fán se nı egyforma két levél, s mi ezt meséljük róla sírva: "Nem volt..." a nagy idın se lesz hozzá hasonló. Úgy fekszik ı, ki küzdve tört a jobbra, Nézzétek e fıt, ez összeomló, mint önmagának dermedt néma szobra. kedves szemet. Nézzétek, itt e kéz, Nem kelti föl se könny, se szó, se ve mely a kimondhatatlan ködbe vész gyszer. kıvé meredve, Hol volt, hol nem mint egy ereklye, s rá ékírással van karcolva ritka, vol t a egyetlen életének ısi titka. világon egyszer. Akárki is volt ı, de fény, de hı volt. Mindenki tudta és hirdette: ı volt. Ahogy szerette ezt vagy azt az ételt, s szólt ajka, melyet mostan lepecsételt a csönd, s ahogy zengett fülünkbe hangja, mint vízbe süllyedt templomok harangja a mélybe lenn, s ahogy azt mondta nem rég: "Édes fiacskám, egy kis sajtot ennék" , vagy bort ivott és boldogan meredt a kezében égı, olcsó cigaretta Memorial on Kosztolanyi füstjére, és futott, telefonált, grave in Kerepesi cemetery és szıtte álmát, mint színes fonált: homlokán feltündökölt a jegy, hogy milliók közt az egyetlenegy.
1 Kosztolányi Dezsı cal rituals, verbalizing impressions of the poets Babits Mihály and Juhász a child into important events, play Gyula and made lifelong friends with Olga Vállay Szokolay ing with words, seeking a playmate Karinthy Frigyes. to make believe partnership and He was born on Palm Sunday and even into flirting with In 1904, he transferred to the uni died on All Souls’ Day, the Day of death. (“Akarsz e játszani?” – versity in Vienna, mostly engaged in the Dead. Almost… “Would you like to play?”) philosophy seminars. In 1905, he Kosztolányi Dezsı, without whom th returned to Budapest but discontin the anthology of 20 century Hun Of course, poetry also stole its way ued his studies for good and started garian literature would not be com into my budding romantic life. As we journalism. His first articles were plete, actually died on November rd spent an afternoon with my favorite published in some country newspa 3 , but his widow, herself a writer, dance partner, brother of one of our pers. But in 1906, he was hired as found it more befitting to take this “saxophonists”, he read Paul editorial staff by the prestig poetic liberty when she wrote about Géraldy’s “Toi et moi” to me, in ious Budapesti Napló to replace Ady him. Kosztolányi’s translation. Nowadays Endre who was a correspondent in the cherished little volume is in my Paris at the time. Hence their life My teenage years were oddly library in both languages. long animosity. wrapped in and penetrated with Kosztolányi’s poetry. Fortunately, I Well, enough of me and my connec Kosztolányi was over 21 years old was surrounded by a circle of tions. Perhaps it’s time to get ac when he had to face the draft. The friends with whom we lived and quainted with the writer, poet, liter 185cm (6’ 1”) tall, perfectly built, shared in the magic of music, fine ary translator, critic, essayist, jour muscular young man was found fit arts and literature – should I just nalist himself. for service. call it culture?... Oh, we loved par ties, dancing till daybreak and had Kosztolányi Dezsı was born at Sza Yet, the military idea was in disso our band consisting of a piano, often badka (then Austro Hungarian Mon nance with his poetic soul and he with a chain placed on its strings for archy, now Serbia) on Palm Sunday, asked his godfather, Lt. Gen. Hof that special jingly tone, a drum, a May 29, 1885, the son of Kosz bauer István for help. However, the string less banjo for decoration and tolányi Árpád, math physics teacher, fair and rigid army man rather sup some combs with tissue paper for school principal, and Brenner ported his godson’s due military ser the saxophone effect…But we lis Eulália. Dezsı’s grandfather, vice with the intention of promoting tened to opera, concerts of baroque nemeskosztolányi Kosztolányi Ágos his learning discipline. as well as modern music, visited ton, bank teller, participated in the galleries and exhibits, and we read 1848 49 Freedom Fight, serving in Thus Dezsı was placed in the infan (well, even wrote…) poetry. Bem’s army as captain. He person try of Szeged. While the recruits ally knew Kossuth and had even were lining up in full army gear at For our age, we were rather well talked to Petıfi. He taught his the barracks, he joined them in a versed (pun just happened…) with grandson to read and write Hungar well tailored light gray suit and yel the works of a variety of poets in ian as well as English. The infant low tie, indicating that he did not Hungarian, German, English and was baptized in a Roman Catholic belong. Ultimately one Sunday he Latin. But Kosztolányi’s works ceremony and, as was the custom sent his calling card to the Colonel seemed to influence us in particular, of the day, was named Dezsı István who received the young rebel, had a to the point that for years we tried Izabella after his godparents, Hof conversation with him about his po to find and used colored inks for bauer István (later lieutenant gen ems and theater life, then dismissed writing. As long as we used foun eral) and his wife Oravecz Izabella. him. He was called for a revised tain pens, mine was always filled checkup and found unfit. with green ink. (“Mostan szines Dezsı started high school tintákról álmodom” – “I Am Dream (gimnázium) at Szabadka but, hav His first volume of poems, “Négy fal ing of Colored Inks”) ing made some improper comment között” (“Between Four Walls”) was about his Hungarian teacher, was published in 1907. It was received Kosztolányi not just enriched but expelled and had to complete his with unanimous approval except for validated our lives. That often high school studies as a private pu that of Ady, commencing the un bumpy transition from childhood to pil at Szeged. ceasing polemic and legendary feud adulthood became a meaningfully between the two. By 1908, his po connected transcendence by the In 1903, he moved to Budapest and ems, translations and critiques were legalization of playing. Playing by registered at the University of Sci regularly published by Élet , Hét and imagination, by consciously trans ences, majoring in Hungarian the freshly starting Nyugat . forming daily adult rigors into magi German studies. There he met with
2 1910 was an eventful year for Kosz few months, forcing Kun’s escape to intoxication”) that appeared in the tolányi. He traveled to France and Moscow. It was historic justice that November 16 th issue of Nyugat is a Italy and became a member of the he himself would be executed in clear testimony to that. Petıfi Society. It was during the Stalin’s bloody “Great Purge” some winter of that year that he met the 20 years later…) Yet, in April 1934 he held a lecture actress Harmos Ilona (née series in Transylvania. Then he un Schlesinger) at the opening of a play It did not take long for the writer to derwent surgery, spent recovery in at the Vígszinház . Although from the realize the horrendous cruelty that a convalescent home before travel very beginning they were attracted the Commune meant. He tried to ing to Berlin, and to Stockholm for to each other and looked as stay non political, yet he was at radiation treatment. startlingly similar as brother and tacked from both sides. Between sister, their relationship presented 1919 and 1921, he worked for the In 1935, after spending a few weeks constant ups and downs, fights and daily Új Nemzedék as one of the in Dalmatia, at a Visegrád journalist reconciliations. She was also a editors of the Pardon column. He resort he met and fell in love with a writer, under the pen name Görög started in the editorial staff of Pesti young married woman, Radákovich Ilona. In 1909, she had published Hirlap where he worked till the end Mária. Their relationship inspired her first, rather risqué novel, of his life. him to write several poems, includ “Madame Chaglon üzletei” (“Mme. ing “Szeptemberi áhi Chaglon’s Dealings”). They married His prize winning novel “Nero, a tat” (“September prayer”). He on May 8, 1913. véres költı” (“Nero, the Bloody wanted to divorce Ilona but the Poet”) was published in 1922. It gravity of his illness prevented that. Although Kosztolányi himself was an was translated into 10 foreign lan agnostic and a freemason, at his guages, first of which was German, And it was his wife who accompa pressure his wife converted to Chris with the foreword written by Tho nied him in 1936 to renewed radia tianity in 1914, preceding the birth mas Mann. tion in Stockholm, then further sur of their only child, Ádám, in geries and recovery at home, before 1915. That same year, most likely He re visited Italy in 1924 where he was re admitted to the Szent due to the ongoing World War I, Pope Pius XI received him at a pri János Hospital in Budapest where, Dezsı was drafted again but classi vate audience. after long suffering on life support, fied unfit, this time because of a he died on November 3rd, 1936 of heart valve insufficiency. By 1930, Kosztolányi was elected a pneumonia and complications of his member of Kisfaludy Társaság and cancer of the palate. Not unlike several artists and literary by year’s end became president of persons, Kosztolányi initially sup the Hungarian PEN Club. *** ported the 1919 Hungarian Soviet Republic (Commune) in the wake of He visited Thomas Mann in Munich In addition to his own poetry, novels the war. His one time colleague at in 1931, delivered a radio lecture in and journalistic contributions the Budapesti Napló, Kun Béla, was Frankfurt, and was received by Lord throughout his career, Kosztolányi’s the commissar of the Commune and Rothermere who pledged 1,000 literary translations acquainted and Kosztolányi visited him one day at pounds to the author of the best delighted Hungarian readers with his apartment. Kun gave him the Hungarian literary work published world literature as well. He was flu outlines of the severity of the politi that year. The prize was divided ent in many Western languages and cal situation including the merciless among Kosztolányi, Krúdy Gyula and his translations of novels and plays fight to come. When the poet asked Móricz Zsigmond. cover English from Shakespeare to him what he and his fellow writers Oscar Wilde, from Thornton Wilder could expect, he replied: In Doorn, central Netherlands, he to Lewis Carrol; French from Ro interviewed the exiled German Em stand to Molière, from Maupassant “You are not needed in the proletar peror, Wilhelm II. And he was to Géraldy, along with Spanish ian state. Poems are not awarded the Chevalier of the Legion works of Calderon, and German needed. You can learn some of Honor distinction in 1932. from Goethe to Rilke. However, he trade. If you are pig headed, we’ll did not stop at his own linguistic execute you.” The first signs of his cancer surfaced abilities: he also published transla in 1933 as a red spot on his gum, tions of Chinese and Japanese po (During his regime nobody could an early installment of the price for etry, most likely from successful have suspected that the brutal sys his lifelong heavy smoking. His Western versions. tem would be overthrown in just a poem “Hajnali részegség” (“Dawn
3 Top: Kosztolányi Dezsı , the Kosztolányi Couple Bottom: Ilona and Adam Kosztolányi, paint ing by Aba Novak Vilmos, the Widowed Ilona (Manyika)
4 Reading his poems and prose makes That’s how we could invite Manyika us feel initiated into his most intimate (Ilona’s familial nickname) to give a Magyar News Online secrets. His poetry’s focus is on speech about her husband at our beauty, rhythm, it dazzles with pictur school, around 1947. 242 Kings Hwy Cut-off esque scenes, moods and the music Fairfield, CT 06824 of the words. His stories and articles Growing up before automobiles and www.magyarnews.org still seem to talk directly, personally telephones, Kosztolányi was nostalgic, to the reader. rather old fashioned in the burgeon Editor: Erika Papp Faber ing technology of the 20 th century. The scope of this article is far too in He would probably be most unhappy Founder, Editor and Publisher adequate to deal with all his works with our not just mechanical and elec Emeritus: Joseph F. Balogh and life’s details. The former can be trical but electronic and cyber ruled found in the ample scrutiny of ubiqui world. It was almost 100 years ago, Editorial Board: tous Internet listings, as well as all his in 1916, that he wrote his “Ének Virág Olga Vallay Szokolay poems. Bits and pieces of his personal Benedekrıl” (“Song of Virág Benedek) Éva Wajda life come from various sources. poem: Charles Bálintitt Eliz Kakas, Judith Paolini Jaj, hogy szerettem volna élni régen, Kosztolányi Dezsı, a mostly kind, Paul Soos, Joseph Ull, Vén századok bús mélyein, korábban, somewhat neurotic man was, mostly Mikor a lélek nyilt, a jóság, s nem ma in his younger years, a rather foppish Webmaster: Karolina Szabo A buta “modern technika” korában… person who later grew into one of Assistant Webmaster: nonchalant elegance with his signa Oh, how I’d have loved to live in days of yore, Zsuzsa Lengyel ture cigarette. He was reported being In sad abysses of old times’ chronology, a heavy drinker. He believed in the When the soul opened, and charity, not now, Treasurer : Zita Balogh sacred uniqueness of the individual, In the age of our stupid was a sympathetic observer of human “modern technology”…. frailty with a gentle humor and a pen chant for the macabre. In his later *** years he devoted much effort to the preservation of the purity of the Hun In memory of my friend Menga and garian language and participated in her Mom, Marcelle, who enriched my philological societies. life, helping me become who I am. He and Ilona were soul mates, proba Olga Vállay Szokolay is an architect and bly too similar, equally wanting the Professor Emerita of Norwalk Commu limelight. She gave up the stage and nity College, CT after three decades of resorted to writing only. She often teaching. She is a member of the Edi mentions him in her biography of him torial Board of Magyar News Online. by his childhood nick name Dide, while he joyfully plays Remembering October 23rd in with her name in his poem “Ilona”. Fairfield, CT Their only child, Ádám, may have been talented but had an undisclosed This year, the October 23rd remembrance by Magyar Studies of America mental illness. He, too, dabbled in was held on Sunday, October 18th. Although windy and chilly, it was a acting, writing, traveled and drank a sunny afternoon when we gathered in front of the commemorative plaque lot but was unable to support himself. next to Town (Independence) Hall. A large basket of flowers was placed in His mother tried to protect him as honor of the Freedom Fighters. The Rev. Alexander Havadtoy gave the in much as possible. There is no infor vocation, recalling the heroic stand of the youth, and the unfortunate Suez mation about him after Ilona’s death crisis which prompted President Eisenhower (just before the election) to in 1967 except that he himself died at declare that America would not interfere. That gave the Russians the green age 64, in 1980. light to crush the Revolution, which thus became a Fight for Freedom. The Kosztolányis were neighbors of A program followed in the Fairfield Museum and Historical Society. my friend’s family at Balatonakarat tya. 5
top: Invocation; flowers at the plaque; 2nd row: program in the Museum; 3rd row: Fairfield First Selectman Michael Tetreau; Fr. Ivan Csete, Speaker; Zsuzsa Lengyel, President of Magyar Studies of America; 4th row: Olga Vállay Szokolay; Irén Fehér; Oliver Valu; bottom row: Olivia Szabo who sang the National Anthem and Allyson Szabo who played folk songs on the flute; exhibit of poems and photos. 6 Cardinal Mindszenty: magyar nyelvő Szent Misét, áldott meg Let us not forget that in this church we bennünket. Úgye mindnyájan szívünk Saint by Acclamation walk in the footsteps of a holy man, that ben éreztük, hogy a Szent Lélek tüze Imre Beke we guard his memory, who was not lángolt szentbeszédében, mikor intett only a true Hungarian patriot, but for 16 bennünket, hogy ırizzük meg templo ”It is an ancient, generally established years lived at the American embassy, mainkat s hozzuk gyermekeinket és custom among Catholics that a person that is, on American territory. On that unokáinkat is a magyar templomba és honored after his death as a saint by account, the entire Archbishopric of magyar iskolába! the Catholic community would be New York may regard him as their own proclaimed a saint by common saint, and we hope that all of us Catho Ne felejtsük el, hogy e templomban egy acclamation of the people in the main lic faithful and Church dignitaries of szent ember nyomdokaiban járunk, az square or in church.” This is what was New York may pay him the respect due İ emlékét ırizzük, aki nem csak igaz done at the end of the exceptionally to him as the saint of two nations, the magyar hazafi volt, hanem 16 éven permitted Hungarian Mass at St. Servant of God who had been tortured keresztül amerikai követségen, tehát Stephen of Hungary Church in New in prison. Let us appreciate the Church amerikai területen élt. Ezáltal az egész York on October 25th, the day the of St. Stephen, which for us American new yorki Érsekség szentjének te Revolution and Freedom Fight of 1956 Hungarians, is truly a shrine where the kintheti és reméljük, hogy mindnyájan that freed Cardinal Mindszenty from faithful may freely express their respect new yorki katolikus hívek egyházi Communist imprisonment was and honor. méltóságok, két nemzet közös szentjé commemorated. nek, börtönben megkínzott Isten szol Taking this special Catholic history into gájának kijáró méltó tisztelettel The Acclamation was read by Imre consideration, we American Hungari adózunk emlékének és a nekünk, Beke, Scout leader and founder, over ans, declare with one accord, and pub amerikai magyaroknak kegyhelynek 50 yars ago, of the Saturday Hungarian licly acclaim that we consider Vener számító Szent István templomot meg School In New York. able Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty, Pri becsüljük, ahol Szent Egyházunk mate of Hungary, Servant of God, a hőséges hívei szabadon leróhatják tisz Dear Hungarian brothers and sisters in SAINT, and through our humble teletüket. Christ! prayers ask his intercession with Our Lord Jesus Christ, that we might keep Mi, amerikai magyar katolikusok, min First of all, I would like to thank Bishop our lawful national heritage, our Ameri den különleges katolikus történelmet O’Hara for his cooperation, who made it can Hungarian churches for our chil figyelembe véve, egységes felállással possible for over a hundred of us to dren and grandchildren, and be able to és közfelkiáltással kijelentjük, hogy have this celebratory Mass here in our proclaim the glory of God in the lan Tiszteletreméltó Mindszenty József church. guage of our ancestors, in Hungarian. bíboros hercegprímást, Isten szolgáját SZENT nek tekintjük és alázatos This year we commemorate the 40th Amen! So be it! imánkkal közbenjárását kérjük Mi Urunk anniversary of the death of the Servant *** Jézus Krisztusnál, hogy jogos nemzeti of God, Venerable Joseph Cardinal Krisztusban kedves magyar testvéreink! örökségünket, amerikai magyar templo Mindszenty, Primate of Hungary. mainkat gyermekeink és unokáink Elıször is köszönetet szeretnék mon számára megtarthassuk, az Úr Isten It is an ancient, generally established dani O’Hara püspök atyának együtt dícsıségét ıseink nyelvén, magyarul custom among Catholics that a person mőködéséért, hogy ezen Ünnepi Szent hirdethessük! honored after his death as a saint by Misét itt tarthatjuk meg több mint Ámen, the Catholic community would be pro százan a mi templomunkban. claimed a saint by common acclama Úgy Legyen! tion of the people in the main square or Idén emlékezünk meg Tiszteletreméltó in church. Mindszenty József bíboros– hercegprímás, Isten szolgája, halálának Let us remember that our Father 40. ik évfordulójára. Mindszenty, beloved by all of us, ac knowledged as Servant of God even by Katolikusok által ısi elismert szokás, the Church, was here in New York 41 hogy a katolikus közösség által szent years ago and celebrated Mass in Hun nek tisztelt személyt, halála után a garian here in our Church of St. város fıterén vagy a templomban a nép Stephen, which had been consecrated közfelkiáltással, acclamation al szent 113 years ago, and had blessed us. Did nek kiáltsa ki. not all of us feel in the depth of our heart that the fire of the Holy Spirit Emlékezzünk arra, hogy a mindnyájunk burned in his sermon, when he admon által szeretett Mindszenty Atya, Szent ished us to safeguard our churches and Egyházunk által is elismert Isten szol bring our children and grandchildren gája, 41 évvel ezelıtt itt járt New York also to the Hungarian church and the városában és a mi 113 éve felszentelt Hungarian school? Szt. István Templomunkban mondott
7 A Short Story about even for this short trip I was a little Ottó Von Habsburg nervous speaking with the potential Charles Bálintitt, Jr. King of Hungary. However, this was not the case with a friend of When I realized that Ottó von my parents. Habsburg would have turned 103 on November 20 th , it re Also about three decades ago, His minded me of a couple of his Royal Highness was in New York visits to New York many years about to deliver a speech at some ago. event in Manhattan. As he entered the elevator, another gentleman Since he was the last heir to the was already in the elevator. The throne of the Austro Hungarian gentleman reached out his hand Empire, many Hungarians con and said: “Én Gyimesi Kásás Ernõ, sidered him as their king. In festõ mûvész vagyok, és hát te, Ottó Von Habsburg Hungarian, there are many very öcsém, ki vagy?” (I am Gyimesi specific ways of addressing indi Kásás Ernõ, renowned artist, and viduals. Using the wrong wording can or in English (e.g. “Your Royal High who are you, my son?). To this the at times be found to be insulting or ness”, “Your Imperial Highness”, “Your simple response was: “Habsburg Ottó, offensive to someone. When I was Majesty”, etc.) az elõadó.” (“Habsburg Ottó, the about to meet Otto von Habsburg for About 33 years ago, I was asked to speaker”). the first time, I remember my father drive him and his nephew Christian (who passed away at age 103 early and Christian’s wife (Princess Marie Charles Bálintitt Jr. is a working Cus this year) telling me to be very careful Astrid of Luxembourg), from St. toms Broker in Lawrence, NY and a if I had the chance to say something; Stephen of Hungary Church to the member of the Magyar News Online to address him properly in Hungarian Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. So Editorial Board. ‘*******************************************************************************************************
Prokop Péter: Prokop Péter was born in Kalocsa in He was recalled to serve as a priest 1919, the fifth child of a master tai in his diocese, and was thus unable Priest-Artist lor. His first childish drawings were to finish his last year at the Acad Erika Papp Faber done in his father’s shop, on the pa emy. This dichotomy, this pull of per used by his dad for patterns. both vocations followed him all his When my husband and I went Péter’s school teachers noticed the life, and he once declared that he to Rome in the late 1970’s, we boy’s aptitude for drawing and en was never fully accepted in either: stayed at the Hungarian pil- couraged him. His art teacher sup among the clergy, he was consid grimage house (Szent István ported him in furthering his art stud ered too much of an artist, and zarándokház), a beautiful, ies. among artists he was thought to be 100-bed hostel built by a Hun- too clerical. garian woman who had inher- In 1937, he entered the seminary in After several commissions to provide ited a fortune from a British Kalocsa, and was ordained a priest paintings for chapels (a school lord she had taken care of for in 1942. His first assignment was in chapel in Kecel Újfalu, the Blessed years. We were struck by the large paintings created by Fr. the parish at Dunapataj, a village six Sacrament Chapel on Vörösmarty u. Prokop Péter (who was a resi- miles north of Kalocsa. Then for in Budapest, etc.), he was commis dent there at the time) which three years (1945 48) he studied at sioned in 1950 to do a fresco for the lined the wide corridors and the Academy of Arts (Képzımővészeti sanctuary at Sükösd (north of Baja), adorned the spacious rooms. Fıiskola) . Aba Novák Vilmos (1894 a monumental work of 100 square One had the impression of be- – 1941), an original representative meters (c. 94 sq. yds.) This was ing in an art gallery. of modern painting and producer of followed by a fresco in the church at monumental works, inspired Pro Szend (southwest of Tatabánya), Fr. Prokop died on November kop’s art, as did Csontváry Kosztka which he carried out at the request 11 t h , 2003, and so we thought Tivadar (1853 1919), a painter of of the pastor Tőz Tamás (who later it appropriate to introduce him the avant garde movement of the became well known as a poet in in this issue. early 20th century in Hungary. Canada). 8 After the defeat of the Revolution of speak, his introduction to the wider Kalocsai Iskolanıvérek Társu 1956, Fr. Prokop was urged to leave Hungarian public. His strongly styl lata) had a nursing home in Csepel the country. He arrived in Rome in ized, angular style, his vivid colors designed by a well known Hungar 1957, and finished his painting were surprising and were not un ian architect. Before dedication of studies at the Accademia di Belle derstood in some quarters. His first the chapel, Fr. Prokop, with the ar Arti. solo exhibit of paintings on canvas chitect, placed some of his Roman and wood fiber was made possible paintings throughout the halls, stair In Rome, he was overwhelmed by by Belon Gellért, then pastor of wells and refectory. They formed an the atmosphere, the quality of the Jánoshalma and later bishop. organic composition with the archi light, writing in his diary: ”In Rome tecture of the home. In 1993, he I discovered light, and my flaming In 1979, he had an exhbit in completed the decoration of the colors were transformed, matured. the Keresztény Múzeum at Eszter chapel with 14 Stations of the Cross My flaming colors, however, belong gom, at which time he made his specifically painted in Rome for this to my native land. Because colors first donation of 270 paintings to location. are born with us... The theme of the Museum. From then on, he had the true painter is color...” regular annual exhibits throughout Following the political change in the country. Between 1989 and his 1989, Fr. Prokop divided his time In 1962, Fr. Prokop was a member death in 2003, he had 80 one man between Rome and Budapest, but of the team working on a large shows. eventually moved back to Hungary scale Michelangelo film’s stage in 1999. Storage of his close to a scenery, including a recon thousand unframed paintings was struction of the Sistine Chapel. a major problem, even though he had a whole suite of rooms in the He created frescoes, paintings home. From then on, he occupied and stained glass windows for himself mostly with framing these numerous Church institutions himself. in Rome, including the Papal Hungarian Institute ( Pápai Increasing bouts of sickness re Magyar Intézet) , which is ob sulted in frequent hospitaliza serving the 75th anniversary tion. He died in Szent Ferenc of its foundation this year, and Kórház, on November 11th, 2003, the Prima Porta convent, for and was interred in Kalocsa. which he also created the fur Unfortunately, he had never made nishings. He had boundless a formal will, and so disposal of energy and was able to work his estate dragged on for years. The fast. He rarely painted portraits. He considered his work ”visual paintings finally reached the desti preaching” that he wished to be nations intended by Fr.Prokop, such There are Hungarian Stations of the queathe to his native land. He made as the Franciscan friary at Szom Cross at the Marian shrine of Fatima donations of hundreds of his works bathely. Disposal of the remaining in Portugal, with a chapel at the to churches, museums, Church 700 paintings, graphics and end. For this, Fr. Prokop created schools, religious orders, bishoprics. sketches was eventually shared by the stained glass windows which In the U.S., Fr. Prokop was asked to the Szent József Otthon of Csepel depict 13 Hungarian saints, and decorate Our Lady of Hungary and the Keresztény Múzeum of Esz later added the mosaics decorating Church (Magyarok Nagyasszonya tergom. the ceiling. templom) in South Bend, IN, with frescoes of Our Lady, St. Imre and Fr. Prokop was a prolific artist: his Although he exercised most of his other Hungarian saints, as well as output of paintings alone numbers creativity abroad, he intended to St. Stephen Church in Toledo, OH, 7,000! Most of them have deeply enrich his native land with the fruits where he added mosaics to the side spiritual, biblical themes, reinter of his talent. In 1962, he sent, by altars. He was also asked to create preting ancient iconic topics in 20th mail, his first donation, a tryptich of a larger than life size painting of the century artistic expression. Some of St. Elizabeth, to the newly con Madonna for the Marian High School them are monumental creations. His structed church at Mélykút, where in South Bend. style is modern expressionistic, he had taught religion. To Kaskan saturated by personal religious ex tyu, east of Kiskırös, he sent the The School Sisters of Our Lady of perience. altar piece. These were, so to Kalocsa ( Miasszonyunkról Nevezett
9 top: Fresco, Sükösd church; mosaic, pilgrimage house garden, Rome; St. Margaret (Margit). cen ter: Altarpiece, pilgrimage house chapel; stained glass window, Fatima, Portugal; O.L. of Hun gary. bottom : Papal Hungarian Institute; corridor, pilgrimage house
10 His art extended to other forms as well, including a cross made of driftwood that we saw in the gar den of the pilgrimage house in Rome. In addition, he was also a poet, and published many volumes (Keresztúton; Kavicsdobáló; Puk kanó buborék; Vén ág is hoz virágot; Igaz ember módra; etc.) He had received many awards, in cluding the Pro Cultura Hunga rica award in 1989, and an award has been named after him. In 2010, a commemorative plaque was placed on the nursing home in Csepel where he lived and worked after his return to Hungary. tained the audience on the same Munkácsy, were projected in the Carnegie Hall stage. background. Concert by Havasi was born in Budapest. He One of his guest singers was Lisa Havasi Balázs is a serious composer, virtuoso Gerrard, composer and singer, Kinga Krammer pianist and showman. He has cre who composed the music of “The ated his own unique musical style, Gladiator”. As always, Magyar News Online is seamlessly blending the inheri The concert was one of the many right on top of current events! tance of classical music, the daz performances that have taken Here we have a review of a recent zling diversity of world music and place in the United States in cele concert given by world famous the sheer power of rock. bration of Hungarian culture. Havasi Balázs, a graduate of the The concert was a musically en Kinga Krammer grew up in Tran Franz Liszt Academy of Music, thralling and visually spectacular sylvania and arrived in Norwalk, who has been billed “the fastest experience. Solo piano, symphony CT in 2004. She finished her ac pianist in the world” by the Guin orchestra, instrumental soloists counting studies here and works ness Book of Records, and has and singers all came together on at a consulting firm in Rye, NY. established the Cultural Bridge the same stage to move and en She teaches the Advanced class at Project between Hungary and tertain the audience. the Fairfield Hungarian School that is sponsored by Magyar Stud China. At the end of the concert, The audience was mesmerized ies of America. the audience gave him a standing with the composer’s unique style. ovation. Havasi played many of his famous compositions, such as “Trinity Bartók Béla, the famous com River”, “The Storm”, and “Dusty poser was the first Hungarian art Road”. Among his famous compo ist who had the opportunity to sitions, Havasi played his varia present his own compositions at tions on “Spring Wind” ( Tavaszi Carnegie Hall in 1943. Seventy szél ), Hungary’s best known and years later, on October th, best loved folk song, as well as 26 Havasi Balázs, a famous variations on music by Liszt. Also, Hungarian pianist and composer, during the show, canvases by and his 150 piece orchestra enter Hungary’s greatest painter,
11 Dénes Szabadhegÿ de Csallóközmegyercsi boys were still so young. Péter graduated with high (January 2, 1927 – August 14, 2015) honors from Binghamton University, followed by the London School of Economics and an MBA from the Uni Charles Bálintitt Jr. versity of Chicago. While Kristóf earned his under graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Remembering a dear family friend who leaves a great followed by an MBA from Duke University. They also legacy. are each happily married with 5 children. A tremendous legacy indeed. A very dear friend of my family, Szabadhegÿ Dénes, passed away suddenly in the early morning hours of Something else that I am sure made Dénes very proud th August 14 , 2015 in Budapest, Hungary at the age of is the fact that Péter has been the Hungarian Ambassa 88. dor to the United Kingdom since April of 2014. Dénes (Dini to all his friends) escaped from Hungary in After speaking with Eszter the other day, I found out 1956 and eventually decided to settle in Staten Island, this was not so unusual for her. It turns out that both NY, where he spent over 45 years. He married his first of her sons are career diplomats. Szalay Bobrovniczky wife, Baroness Butler Ilma, within a couple of years of Vince is the Hungarian Ambassador to Austria, and her his arrival. They raised their two sons, Péter and son Kristóf (she has two by that name, a son and a Kristóf, together until Ilma’s death from leukemia at the stepson) is an Ambassador at large. So Péter had some young age of 40, in 1972. Not long after, Dénes asked very good advice on how to transition from the world of a good friend of his, Hussy Mária, to move down from business to the world of diplomacy. Canada to help raise his two young boys. After a year or so, Dénes and Mária were married. The marriage One of my oldest memories of Dénes, Ilma, Péter and lasted for about 20 years, until Mária’s death. Kristóf was seeing them on the SS United States in 1965 in New York Harbor, while seeing our friends the From 1963 until his retirement, Dénes was a CPA in his Gáspár’s off as they went to live in Munich. Péter was own one man firm. He was a member of the Hungarian not yet four years old and Kristóf was less than two, Knights of Malta. He was a very good tennis player, while I was a much older seven. which may have inspired Péter to excel at tennis him self. Dénes was not only a wonderful friend, but my I wish them all well, while hoping that Dénes is sitting parents and I would go to him to do our tax returns for at my father’s table in heaven enjoying a little cabernet, many years. He would go over our documents at his of course! home, while we all enjoyed some wine with him, toast ing to the possibility of a refund. Sometime close to the age of 70, Dénes had heart bypass surgery. To help him recover, he asked a family friend, Bobrovniczky Eszter, to come from Hungary to Staten Island. She must have been an amazing nurse to him because once he had fully recovered, he married her. In 1991, not long after the fall of Communism in Hungary, Dénes’ son Péter decided to move to Budapest. He was a senior manager for Deloitte & Touche in Hungary and then covered the area of Central Europe for over a dec ade. In 2004, he started his own private equity firm, working with his younger brother, Kristóf, who followed him to Budapest. After retire ment, about a decade ago, Dénes and Eszter joined them. Dénes leaves a tremendous legacy behind. He raised two wonderful sons, in spite of the tre mendous hardship of losing his wife while the The new Hungarian Ambassador, Szabadhegÿ Péter present ing his credentials to Queen Elizabeth
12 KOMONDOR coat to form long cords that hang them. Komondors can be good fam Eva Wajda alongside the dog. A puppy's coat is ily dogs if their owners know how relatively soft but shows signs of to display a natural, firm authority Of the various breeds of Hun- corded like curls. It can take up to over the dog. The humans must be garian dogs, we now present two years for the cords to form com making the decisions, not the the Komondor, a great (in pletely, and 5 years to reach the de dogs. This is the only way your re every sense of the word!) sired length. The hair must never be lationship with your dog can be a sheepdog. brushed or combed, nor the hair success. If this is not established, above the eyes cut, since this pro the Komondor, very territorial, can tects his eyes from the sun and from be aggressive with both dogs and snowblindness. It needs frequent people if they enter the property, as bathing, and the coat could take it takes over the home, treating all 2 1/2 days to dry naturally. A Hun strangers as the predators coming garian male Komondor weighs be after their flock. Humans, not the tween 150 180 pounds, a female dog, need to be the leaders in the 100 120 pounds. home. Puppies should be handled a lot by strangers. They should be The lips and nose are black on all taught to heel on a lead right from Komondors. Their eyes are almond the start and learn to enter and exit shaped. all doors after the humans. The Komondor (in Hungarian, the plural for Komondor is Komondorok), Komondors were brought to Hungary The Komondor breed has been de also known as the Hungarian sheep by Cumans (Kunok in Hungarian), clared one of Hungary's national dog, sometimes referred to as a mop the Turkic speaking, nomadic people treasures, a "Hungarikum", to be dog, is a large, muscular, white fleeing from the Mongols. Having preserved and protected from modi colored, powerful, long established been granted asylum, they settled in fication. Hungarian dog breed that has a Hungary in 1239 under Köten natural instinct to guard livestock (Kötöny) Khan. (The son of King The breed was recognized by the and property. An adult Komondor is Béla IV, István, married Kötöny’s American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1937. able to protect a herd or flock of 100 daughter Erzsébet.) 120 animals by itself. He does not Sources: Wikipedia; AKC; ”Magyarok require human assistance. If a prob The name Komondor derives from vagyunk mi is” by Aboczkyné Rózsa lem should arise, he will run with Komandor, meaning "Cuman Dog". hegyi Marika. incredible speed, low to the ground Komondor remains have been found like a huge rabbit, to alert his mas in Cuman gravesites. The name Eva Wajda is a member of the Ma ter who will know there is trou "quman dur" means belonging to the gyar News Online Editorial Board. ble. He sleeps with the flock for Cumans or "the dog of the Cumans", months in all kinds of weather, and thus distinguishing it from similar if a predator attacks, he does not Hungarian sheepdog breeds. The bark or growl, but with one leap name Komondor is found written for grabs and breaks the attacker's neck, the first time in 1544 in the ”History and by this action scares away the of King Astiagis” by Kákonyi Péter, in other would be predators. Hungarian. Later, in 1673, Amos Comenius mentions the Komondor in The Komondor's body is totally cov one of his works. Today it is a fairly ered with an extraordinary felted and common breed in Hungary, its coun corded coat which is 8 10 inches try of origin. long, the heaviest amount of fur could weigh as much as 60 Due to the Komondor's size, power, pounds. This thick, corded, white speed and temperament, a lack of coat helps the dog blend in well with obedience training can result in dan sheep and also helps protect it from ger to others. They need complete any prey that it might fight in his role and firm leadership with clear rules as a flock guardian, because the bite they must follow, as they can be could not penetrate the thick coat. very willful if they are stronger Komondorok can grow to be quite The outer coat fuses with the under minded than the humans around massive.
13 cranes start their annual migra Shepherds’ Festival: tion south, from A Thousand Year the puszta . They have been called "birds of loyalty", since Tradition they always return to their tem EPF porary homes. Cranes were al ways held in high esteem, as On October 24th this year, the racka evidenced by the fact that in sheep (a Hungarian breed), the grey olden times, a crane feather was oxen (another Hungarian breed) and worth a cow with calf! Today, the Nonius horses (also a Hungarian there are an estimated 80,000 stock) were driven across the "nine cranes on the puszta in Hungary holed bridge" on the Hortobágy to start today, and for the first time in a the feast of St. Dömötör and the Crane century, they are also beginning Festival. St. D ömötör was the patron of to nest again. shepherds, and it's been a tradition since the Conquest (over a thousand The Crane Festival included an exhibit, years ago) that shepherds gave an a conference, and various watching acounting of the animals entrusted to tours (in absolute quiet!), them by the owners on this feast day. from a boat, or from a horse drawn cart or a narrow gauge According to the Érdy Codex (an illumi railroad. nated manuscript dating back to 1527), Dömötör was born in the Szerémség, the southern area between the Száva and the Dráva Rivers, which later be came part of Hungary. He was a sol dier and was martyred for the faith. He is one of two saints whose enameled images are found on the Holy Crown of St. Stephen. This is also the time of year when the
KICSI A VILÁG – naled and offered to take the toddler Munich, Germany, heard about the in their car. The parents gladly search and picked her up. IT’S A SMALL WORLD agreed. Olga Vállay Szokolay In the early 1960’s, we invited a cir At a hill they lost sight of the motor cle of Hungarian friends to our Stam In November, 1956, the city of Vi cycle behind them. They waited for ford, CT house and the main topic enna, and Kärtnerstrasse in particu some time, but were anxious to get was sharing everyone’s story of es lar, was about the surest place to run across the border. In hopes that the cape from Hungary. Péter and Klári into your friends. All of Hungary couple would catch up with them on Szilágyi told us about their adventur seemed to converge just there and it the other side, they continued and ous journey on a motorcycle with was no real surprise bumping into successfully arrived in Austria. But their three year old in the sidecar, fellow architect and sailor Jankovich the couple disappeared. The little the Topolino that took her in, their Pista (Pufi) and family: his wife and one would only say that her name bike malfunctioning and how they two daughters, 8 and 6, respec was Ági and that she was three years lost them, and thinking they couldn’t tively. We had known each other for old. even get across the border, turned years. The unexpected twist was: back to Budapest….And how Péter’s they had a third “daughter”, a tiny From Vienna the Jankovich’s con mother finally let them know that three year old with them. Answering tacted the Red Cross and Radio Free their little daughter Ági, her only our question about her, they ex Europe, in search for Ági’s fam grandchild whom she had never met plained that on the highway heading ily. When we had talked at Kärtner before, was safely with her!… westward in their Fiat Topolino, they strasse, Pufi said they would keep spotted a family on a motorcycle with her as long as necessary, until her I said to Klári: “We had met your a little girl in the sidecar. It started folks could be found. They settled in little girl before we ever knew you…” raining. Since everyone was obvi Switzerland, we came to the and told her our end of the Small ously aiming for Austria, they sig U.S. Months later they wrote that World story. Ági’s grandmother, who was living in 14 Réten, réten, keresztúri sötét réten It is fascinating to look into the setting and background of folksongs. They often give us a glimpse of the history of a place and of customs.
Réten, réten, keresztúri* sötét réten In the field, in the field, in the dark field of Keresztúr, elvesztettem a zsebbe való késem, I lost my pocket knife, késem után a karikagyőrőmet, after my knife, my wedding (or engagement) ring, galambom, azt sajnálom, my darling, that’s what I’m sorry for, nem a régi szeretımet . not my old flame.
*nother version has it as „sej a nagybugaci” Keresztúr a village in Nyitra County. It was inhabited already in Roman times, as attested by a gold coin from the time of Emperor Theodosius. It was mentioned in the papal tithing records as early as 1332, as „Ecclesia Sancte Crucis”, i.e., „Church of the Holy Cross”. (In olden parlance, the cross was sometimes called „úr”.) The church was destroyed in the 16th century, during Turkish times, but was rebuilt in the 17th cen tury. The inhabitants worked as sawyers, and made shingles and wood products. In WWII, they took part in the Slovak uprising, which brought about bloody battles in the area between the Germans and the guerrillas in 1944 45. There are 33 other settlements in Hungary with the suffix „ keresztúr”. Nagybugac Bugac is mentioned in a document dating back to 1451, and is located south of Kecskemét, in Kiskúnság. In the kún language, „buga” means „bull”, and a „bugac” is a person who works with the bull. Bugac had long been rented to the city of Kecskemét; then in 1642, Eszterházi Pál donated 6 kún puszta to the city. This gave a great boost to shepherding, farming and the breeding of livestock. In 1928, the coming of the narrow gauge railroad connecting Kecskemét with Kiskúnmajsa brought about the discovery and development of the tourist aspect of Bugac . To this day, tourists come by the thousands to see re enactments of shepherd life, watch coach and five demonstrations and see some ancient artifacts used by shepherds in days gone by. They can see the ancient Hungarian breeds of gray cattle ( szürkemarha ), sheep (called rackajúh) , as well as a stud farm. In 1950, Bugac became independent from Kecskemét. Today, it is the sixth largest settlement – in area – in Bács Kiskún County. rét – meadow, field zsebbe való kés – lit. belonging in the pocket knife pocket knife sajnálom – I regret, I’m sorry (for) sajnálni régi szeretı – old flame – szeretı: lover, sweetheart
Keresztúri rét Bugaci rét 15 Did you know … ... that the first monastic brewery was set up at the Cistercian abbey of Zirc this past summer? It is in tended to provide financial support for the abbey. Three types of beer are produced: a Pilsen type lager, an unfiltered beer made from wheat, and a Belgian type specialty ale. Actually, the abbey of Zirc has a centuries old beer brewing tradition, beginning after the Turks were driven out of the country in the early 18th century. First they used water from a lake, which since then has been called ”Seres tó”, and later they had a well dug specifically for brewing purposes. Beer production stopped sometime during the sec ond half of the 19th century. ... that gray oxen ( szürkemarha ), the racka and the cigája sheep, dif ferent types of mangalica pig, and a Zirc Abbey, sz ürke marha and Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Budapest variety of hens, ducks and geese, may be seen in a park for native Hungarian domestic animals? Located at Alsóújlak, in the western ... that November 25th is observed Stadium, with a score of 6:3, in part of the country (serving the as the Hungarian Day of Soccer? On 1953. A poem catches the excite İrség Rábaköz area), several dozen that day in 1953, the Hungarian ment of the populace, as they Hungarian domestic animals are on ”Golden Team” beat the British rushed to listen to the radio broad display. Exhibits also introduce the (unbeaten for 90 years on their cast of that historic match: viewer to some of the trades associ home turf) in London’s Wembley ated with animal husbandry. A nagy futball gyızelmek idején ... that Budapest Liszt Ferenc Inter Csanádi Imre national Airport has just been named ”Airport of the Year” by the CAPA Á, nem légiveszély, nem ugat jajgatva sziréna, Centre for Aviation, an aviation mar vágtat mégis a nép, áll le a taxi, a busz, ket research and data supply com ugrik szét az utas, valahány, szalad ám a sofır is, pany? It is an award for excellence srácok üvöltenek és szatyros, ezüst nagyanyák. ”bestowed upon airlines and airports Aztán csend: megakad gyárakban a munka, takarmányt that are not only successful, but vet barmának a pór, s iszkiri, házba siet. have also managed to adapt to the Már az egész ország fülel, egy ember kiabál csak, rapidly changing business environ egyszál ember a brit ködfalon át, Szepesi. ment in an exemplary manner, and Mondja is, aprítván szaporázván, dördül az éter have explored new di rections and hullámán: Öcsi, most! vidd, Öcsi! vágd, Öcsi, rá! strategies which can be utilized by Aztán – Gól! Gól! Gól!!! Recseg attól mikrofon, ablak. others as well.” Tombol öreg, fiatal. – Most bele! – bıg, aki él. Gól! Gól! Gól!!! szilajon csattog szét. Végtire: Gyıztünk ! GYİZ TÜNK! tárul a kar, csók ide, csók oda, csók. Mámort habzik tar medrében a pıre November, partról partra riog: EGY A MA ! EGY A MAGYAAAR! 16 Quick vegetable soup / (Becsinált leves) Grated Noodles (Reszelt The following recipe for a de- tészta) licious soup is taken from St. Emery’s Family Recipes, pub- 1 cup flour lished by St. Emery’s Church, 1 large egg Fairfield, CT. A potato biscuit 1/8 pound of butter will go very well with this. Mix flour and egg by hand and form a hard roll. Grate on the large side of potato grater; spread out on waxed paper to dry. Melt butter; add grated noodles, stirring constantly until light brown and add to soup. Krumplis pogácsa – Potato Biscuit Hozzávalók: 3 közepes nagyságú burgonya 50 dkg liszt 2 evıkanál zsír 2 dkg élesztı 1 dl tej 1 kávéskanál cukor 1 ½ kávéskanál só 1 tojás sárgája 1 egész tojás a tetejét megkenni
Elkészítés: Chicken giblets (gizzard, liver) A tejet a cukorral meglangyosítjuk, 1 ½ quarts water belemorzsoljuk az élesztıt és kelni 2 tsp salt hagyjuk. A burgonyát kockára vág 2 carrots juk és sós vízben puhára fızzük. A 1 medium onion 1 tsp sugar lisztben elmorzsoljuk a zsírt, sót. 1 parsley root and greens 1 ½ tsp salt 2 stalks celery 1 egg yolk Krumplinyomón áttörjük a krumplit, 1 fresh tomato 1 egg to brush top és a liszttel jól összekeverjük. ½ tsp paprika Végezetül hozzáadjuk a megkelt ¼ tsp black pepper Instructions: élesztıt, és a tojás sárgát és jól
összegyúrjuk. Tálban addig ke Warm up milk and mix in sugar, add Take neck, gizzard and liver of lesztjük, míg duplájára dagad. chicken and wash; put in soup pot yeast and let it rise. Peel and cube with water. Add the salt and cook potatoes, a cook it in salt wa 2 cm vastagra nyújtjuk, pogác slowly while you clean the carrots, ter. Mix butter and salt into flour. saszaggatóval kiszaggatjuk, a tetejét onion, parsley root and greens, cel Press potatoes through potato ricer tojással megkenjük. Elımelegített ery stalks and tomato. Cut all up and mix well with flour. Add yeast sütıben 375 fokon szép barnára fine and add to soup. Add black and egg yolk to flour. Work dough sütjük. pepper and paprika; cook until until smooth. Put it in bowl and let it vegetables are tender. rise until doubled in size. Potato Biscuit Ingredients: Take 1/3 cup of freshly grated noo Roll dough on floured board to ½ “, 3 medium size potatoes dles (see recipe below) and brown and cut it with biscuit cutter. Brush 3 cups flour lightly in butter. Add to soup and top with egg. Preheat oven and 2 Tbsp lard or butter boil for 10 minutes. bake on 375 until golden brown. 1 Tbsp powdered yeast, or 1 cube 1/3 cup of milk 17