December 5, 2002 - Volume X, Issue 49
Baháíi community celebrates new center
By Lucy Mallows
The Baháíi community of Budapest celebrated the opening of a new center on Ferenciek tere with a ceremony
during which a letter of friendship and congratulation from former President of Hungary Árpád Göncz was read out.
"An occasion of settling is important in the Hungarian community," said Dr István Szalay, Secretary of State for Religious Matters in
the Prime Ministerís Office.
He remarked on the title of the opening celebrations, "Hungary - Where East and West meet," adding that Hungary was indeed on the
border of East and West.
Following some music from the Baháíi Community Band, Dr László Farkas gave a brief summary of the history of the Baháíi community in
Hungary.
The Baháíi faith centers around the teachings of Baháíuílláh. Born in Persia in the mid-1800s, Baháíuílláh is regarded by Baháíis
as the Manifestation of God for the present age, which is viewed as a time of maturation for the world.
`Abduíl-Bahá, the son of Baháíuílláh visited Hungary and the traveler and orientalist Ármin Vámbèry is considered the first
Hungarian Baháíi. "The Baháíi religion has no priests and no temples and was considered suspicious in Hungary in the 1930s, thus Baháíi
disappeared. It reappeared after World War Two and the community established itself in Budapest in 1989 and now there are 65 settlements
throughout the country, explained Farkas.
It is estimated that there are between 1100 and 1200 Baháíi believers in Hungary, many are Roma.
Basic Baháíi tenets include the recognition of basic unity among all world religions, races and peoples, equality of men and women,
and a spiritual system of belief for harmonious, peaceful co-existence on a global scale. Coming in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic lineage, the
Baháíi faith nonetheless acknowledges and exalts the prophets and the teachings of other religions as well.
Hungarian Baháíis are part of an international Baháíi community, with an administrative center in Haifa. The Baháíi faith also
maintains a consultative status at the United Nations and is involved in projects around the globe. Donations are accepted only from its own
members.
Two social projects are currently run through the Hungarian Baháíi Center. The first is for Budapest youth who, through group dance
workshops and performances, can explore community problems such as drug abuse, violence, and racism. The second is the Mesèlô Anyák
(Storytelling Mothers) program for Roma mothers countrywide, to help them better understand and navigate disadvantages from a
spiritually-informed perspective.
The Baháíi Center is located at 1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 3. II em. 4. For more information about the Baháíi Center, the Baháíi
faith, or any upcoming activities, contact Éva at 266-4004, email nsabahai@elender.hu, or visit the Baháíi website, www.bahai.hu for Hungary,
or www.bahai.org
©Copyright 2002, The Budapest Sun (Hungary)
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