Benedictines

The first monastic order to operate in Hungary was the Benedictines. As the Hungarians settled in the Carpathian Basin by the end of the 9th century, they were heathens, though with some knowledge of Christianity. They continuously tried to extend their borders towards the west, but after losing the Battle of Augsburg in 955, they had calm down. With enemies both to the west and to the east, the tribe leader Geza made pace with, Emperor Otto I, and they agreed that Benedictine monks should be sent to “Christianize” Hungary. Geza himself remained a gentile, but his son Vajk, later baptized Stephen, became Hungary’s first king, and the one known as the one bringing Christianity to Hungary.

The first Benedictine monastery was founded in 996, at Pannonhalma. But, who were the Benedictines?

The origin of the Benedictines

Benedict of Nursia was the founder of the Benedictines. The first, and most famous, Benedictine monastery was founded in 529 at Monte Cassino in Italy. Benedict later founded 12 more monasteries during his lifetime. What made this monastery and Benedict himself so special, was the rule invented by the same man. It describes and gives rules for life in a monastic community, under the guidance of an abbot or an abbess. It is often summed up by the slogan “prayer and work“.

This rule has later served as a solid foundation for almost all monastic communities, though altering it to suit their needs, goals and visions.

The Benedictines in Hungary

The first monastery was founded at St. Martin’s Hill in 996, Pannonhalma. Later more Benedictine monasteries were founded in Bakonybél, Pécsvárad, Zalavár and in Zoborhegy. Saint Gellért, an important character in the early days of Hungarian Christianity, lived as a hermit in Bakonybél for a period of his life, he spent quite some time in Pécsvárad, and in 1030 Saint Stephen named him bishop of Csanád.

In the 13th century almost 100 Benedictine monasteries existed in Hungary. The Benedictines experienced decline in the 14th century, and some claim that this was due to simony (paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church). Mate Tolnai tried to revive the movement early in the 15th century through making a union consisting of the eight biggest Benedictine monasteries in Hungary. It was successful, but it was quickly stopped by the Turks invading and taking control of most parts of Hungary. During this time monastic life at Pannonhalma ceased.

During the reign of Joseph II, only those monasteries useful for the emperor were allowed to stay “open”. The tradition of the Rule of Saint Benedict does not place the emphasis on the work of the community but on community life itself. Therefore Joseph II, in 1786, supressed all the Benedictine monasteries in Hungary, except from two.

During communism the Benedictine schools in Győr and at Pannonhalma were allowed to operate, but only those.

In Hungary today there are 5 operating Benedictine monasteries, having a total of 75 monks living in them (number from 2008). The monasteries can be found in Bakonybél, Tihany, Pannonhalma, Győr and in Budapest.