Plaque Unveiled for Mathematical Genius in Transylvania

On Monday, a plaque commemorating Farkas (Wolfgang) Bolyai was unveiled at the school named after the mathematician in Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureș, Romania). This took place as part of a three-day celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth.

This significant event connects the past with the present while also offering an outlook for the future, said Zoltán Hajdu, director of the Farkas Bolyai High School, in his opening speech. From Monday, two commemorative plaques will remind us of the work of Farkas Bolyai. The school named after him is not only part of Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely), but also of Transylvanian and Hungarian culture, he explained. The principal pointed out that in addition to science, the mathematician was also a committed servant of the Reformed Church.

The two plaques in memory of Farkas Bolyai. Photo: Facebook

He not only made discoveries in the field of science, but also shaped social and religious life in an exemplary manner”,

emphasized the director. He explained that the elder Bolyai was not only a scientist, but also a spiritual leader, as he knew that the intertwining of knowledge and religion is essential for the development of future generations. The anniversary will also commemorate the most important events in the history of the Bolyai Grammar School and the Reformed College, said Zoltán Hajdu, emphasizing the responsibility of the two schools to preserve and pass on the legacy of Farkas Bolyai.

This year was the Year of Youth, declared Vilmos Kolumbán, Bishop of the Transylvanian Reformed Church District. Around 900 young people took part in the opening event, proving that “it makes sense to work because there is a future here”, added the Bishop. The church district focuses on offering a future for young people “that is worth living, beautiful and worthy of Transylvania’s heritage”. He added that the Reformed Church not only has to look into the future, but also has to commemorate the past.

Zoltán Soós, Mayor of Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely), paid tribute to the life and work of Farkas Bolyai and pointed out that he had left an important legacy not only for the city, but also for universal science. He emphasized that the city’s community remembers him with pride, as he not only lived and worked here, but also raised his famous son János Bolyai in the same spirit. “His whole life’s work was teaching,” he said of the elder Bolyai.

A three-day commemorative event is being held in Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely) to mark the anniversary of Farkas Bolyai’s birth. On Sunday, the day of his birth, an excursion was organized to the most important places of his life.

On Monday, there was a wreath-laying ceremony at the scientist’s resting place in the Reformed Cemetery of Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely). Klára Lázok, director of the Teleki-Bolyai Library, presented the Bolyai artifacts kept in the museum. In the afternoon, the film Farkas Bolyai by Gyula Miholcsa was shown.

A commemorative conference on the life and work of Farkas Bolyai is held on Tuesday, jointly organized by the school and Sapientia University.

Participants will also visit the Bolyai Museum, where mathematician Sándor Horváth will present the pseudosphere monument he designed and erected in 2002.

Pseudosphere monument. Photo: Wikipedia

The school also houses a Bolyai photo exhibition by Zoltán Kása and offers interested parties the opportunity to gain an insight into the activities of the Bolyai workshop. The exhibition shows the versatility of the two Bolyais, which has also manifested itself in music, literature, theology and fencing.

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