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A Short History
of the Franciscan Church of Pest

Our church was built in 1250 in the gothic style by Béla IV, a member of the Third (or Lay) Franciscan Order, who is also regarded as the second founder of the Hungarian state.

From the reign of László IV (1272-1290) the church became important in the life of the the state: the Te Deum being sung there whenever the national diet elected a new king on nearby Rákos Meadow

After the Turkish victory at the battle of Mohács (23 September, 1526), the church was burnt down, and the brothers were put to the sword. Among the massacred victims was the first Hungarian poet who is known by name. He was the priest of the church, Father András Vásárhelyi, who wrote the hymn to Virgin Mary which is entitled "Angyaloknak Nagyságos Asszonya" (1508). From the year Buda Castle (1541) was captured, the church was used as a Muslim place of worship and was called the "Bey Szinan".

The Franciscan brothers recommenced church services in the summer of 1686. The church was officially returned to their possession on 7 April 1690 by the Emperor Leopold I.

During the Catholic Reformation, our Franciscan predecessors rebuilt the church in baroque style. The ceremony of consecration took place on 21 September, 1743, on the feast of Saint Matthew.

During the reform era, the church served as a pastoral centre. Father Albach, Father Gegõ and Father Gasparich, who were called the ‘the preaching triad of Pest’, worked within its walls.

In 1950, our province was outlawed by the Communist regime. After 40 years of enforced exile, we were able to return to the church and friary on 1 September, 1990, and to resume our time-honoured mission: of proclaiming God's glory and working for the salvation of our fellow humans.