On May 13, 2024, a solemn ceremony was held to unveil and consecrate a plaque in memory of Old Russian monks who served on the shores of Lake Balaton in Tihany since the mid-11th century, according to the website of the Hungarian Archdiocese.
The plaque was unveiled and consecrated on May 13, 2024.
The dedication of the plaque was performed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary, accompanied by clergy of Budapest-Hungarian Eparchy: Archpriest John Kadar, rector of the Sergius Church, Archpriest Nikolai Kim, rector of the parish of Hévíz, Priest Dimitriy Kornilov, rector of the Trinity parish of Budapest, and Deacon Vyacheslav Li. The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir under the direction of Regent George Surkov.
The commemorative plaque was established on the initiative of the Russian side on the Tihany Hill, called the Russian Stone, near the cave hermitage created by the monks of Kievo-Pechersk Lavra, who accompanied Princess Anastasia, daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, who became the wife of King Andras I of Hungary. Up to the middle of the XIV century, this skete was the abode of Orthodox monks, who are still honored by the monks-nuns of the Benedictine monastery in Tihany.
Opening ceremony, Abbot Jerome of the Benedictine Monastery in Tihany quoted the words of Pope Francis, who called Hungary «a country of bridges». «Now we are standing at one of the pillars of this bridge», — Abbot Jerome added, expressing the hope that the event will become another bridge connecting the West with the East.
Pope Francis, who called Hungary «a land of bridges.
«The plaque will remind us all of the deep historical roots of the relations between our countries, as well as testify to the commitment of our peoples to the traditional values common to all world religions, — said at the opening ceremony Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Hungary E.A. Stanislavov.
«We are on the place where the monks of ancient Russia lived and worked, where prayers were offered for the entire Hungarian land, — Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary noted. — This place is a symbol of centuries-old ties between ancient Russia and the Hungarian Kingdom»
As a token of appreciation, Ambassador E.A. Stanislavov and Metropolitan Hilarion donated to the Abbey an icon of St. Istvan, the first king of Hungary, executed in the style of Moscow icons of the 17th century
The ceremony and subsequent reception at the Abbey was attended by representatives of the Chancery Office of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Russian and Hungarian media, staff of the Russian centers at the universities of Budapest and Pecs, historical scholars, the head of the Hungarian team at the Sochi Youth Festival, as well as compatriots and staff of the Russian Embassy.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
