Debrecen (DEH-bret-sin)

Last weekend we went with some of the Calvin students on a tour of Debrecen, Hungary's second largest city.  This excursion was organized by one of Calvin's academic partners in Budapest,  Károli Gáspár Református Egyetem (Karoli Gaspar Reformed University).  The Reformation was embraced very early in Debrecen, and it was known at one time as the "Calvinist Rome" because  most of its inhabitants at that time were Hungarian Calvinists.

One of the places we visited in Debrecen was the Nagytemplom (the Great Reformed Church), the largest Protestant church in Hungary.  It was very simple, almost stark, compared to the many Catholic and Orthodox churches we have seen in our travels this semester, but beautiful in its own way.  While in the church, we were fortunate enough to hear an organist with 40 years of playing the organ "exercising" (I think that meant practicing!).

Another sign that we were in a Reformed church...

"...not my own, but I am the property of my faithful savior Jesus Christ..."  I bet you can figure out  "(Heidelbergi Káté 1.)" without my - rather Google Translate! - help.

This Advent wreath was the lone sign inside the church that we are preparing to celebrate Christmas. 

Outside the church, the city of Debrecen is all geared up with Christmas lights and a Christmas market (as is Budapest). 

The Nagytemplom

 

The center of Debrecen and its Christmas market

 

 We're going to try to get some Hungarian Christmas ornaments back to Michigan unbroken!