Reference Type: Book Section
Author: Horváth, Gábor
Year: 2006
Title: Erzsébetváros 1766-os canonica visitatiója
Translated Title: [The canonica visitatio of Erzsébetváros from 1766]
Editor: Őze, Sándor - Kovács, Bálint
Book Title: Örmény diaszpóra a Kárpát-medencében. I kötet
City: Piliscsaba
Publisher: Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem Bölcsészettudományi Kar
Pages: 76-83
Language: Hungarian
Keywords: Armenian minority, history, religion, ethnic identity, religious identity, language, politics, settlement, elites, assimilation, language use, education, modernization, Catholic Church
Abstract: (Hu) This study is the result of the beginning of a research. In my essay, I would like to introduce some points of the ‘visitatio' from the 22nd of August in 1766 from the Armenian-Ritual parish of Erzsébetváros in Transylvania. The visitation was performed during the reign of the Transylvanian bishop: József Bajtay by Ferenc Kósa, the canon from Gyulafehérvár and he was also the leader of this general visitation and Mihály Benkõ chancellor of the bishop. These are the parts of the visitation: the visitation of Bajtay bishop on the 19th-20th of July in 1766, Sermons Homilies, Procedure of Administring the Sacraments (baptism, confession, marrige), Cristian Societies, Education of Children, Objects and Accessories of the Church and the Form of the Oath of an Archdeacontry Clerk.
One cannot only know the material goods or the equipment of the church but also can get a picture on the religious life: members of the parish neglected the obligatory confession at Easter, children did not attend bible-classes. Priests also played a role that these all could happen: fathers making the visitation compelled the parson on which holidays he had to have a homilie and they order him to make one of his assistant ministers preach on other Sundays. In Erzsébetváros the foundation-stone of the new church was layed down in 1766. The builder could not only count on the donation of generous believers but also the charitable associations in the parish for the building of this ruined, but even today very imposant church. We are not informed about the function of charitable associations by the ‘visitatio'.
Language played a very significant role in the survival of Armenian identity in Transylvania. It has an elementary role in delaying of assimilation. Knowing this role of language, Armenian people started foundations in order to educate their children in Armenian. After 140 years passed, in the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, Lukács Ávedik, the parson of the Armenian company in Erzsébetváros in his great monography complained of how few people spoke their ancient language. The Armenian colony has shrivelled up for today, the number of inhabitants does not reach up to twenty persons. Assimilation did not stop.This study wants to flash some snaps for the reader on the basis of a source in some respects
to see the different points of view how Armenian Catholic people lived in Erzsébetváros in 1766
URL: http://ormkut.btk.ppke.hu/06Horvath.pdf