Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a powerful speech on Sunday during the re-consecration ceremony of the newly renovated St. Michael’s Cathedral in Veszprém (near Lake Balaton), emphasizing Hungary’s deep-rooted Christian heritage and warning against the resurgence of anti-church and anti-Christian forces in the country.
PM Orbán described these forces as “agitators—half-crazed opponents of our churches, today’s violent Lenin boys, and rabble-rousing Bolshevik squads shouting at priests,” warning that they have reappeared in Hungarian political life. “We must stand up to them in time, and stand firmly by our own side,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister highlighted that Hungary’s history and Christianity are not separate strands but “threads woven into the same fabric.” Speaking about the significance of the cathedral, PM Orbán said, “We are not merely re-consecrating a building in Veszprém; we are returning to the cornerstone of our own past and history.” He pointed out that the cathedral still holds the foundation stones laid by Blessed Gisela, Hungary’s first queen.
St. Michael’s Cathedral in Veszprém Photo: Facebook/Veszprémi Érsekség
PM Orbán reflected on the historical choice of Christianity made by Saint Stephen, describing it not just as a religious shift, but as a “historical decision and a personal commitment.” He quoted a saying from Queen Gisela’s homeland: “Leave the church in the middle of the village.” This, he explained, symbolizes the responsibility entrusted by divine laws to the village church and the importance of protecting the moral compass Christianity has held for two thousand years.
Warning against contemporary attempts in Europe to “replace the old with new ideas, invent new principles, and push aside those who represent the life order of our ancestors,” PM Orbán pointed out that Hungary has taken the opposite approach over the past 15 years by strengthening communities that preserve national identity through enduring values.
The Prime Minister praised the continuous service of the Church over the past millennium and how St. Michael’s Cathedral, situated at the heart of Veszprém, has stood as a symbol of faith and resilience. He recalled the dark periods the cathedral and the Church endured, including the imprisonment of thirty priests in the 1950s, the internment of the bishop, the dissolution of monastic orders, and the state takeover of Church-run social institutions. Orbán condemned the historical oppression of the nation, which he said has always gone hand-in-hand with the persecution of the Church, a truth that “must never be forgotten.”
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he vowed not to “give a single square centimeter” of space to harassment or persecution of Christian communities in Hungary. Instead, the focus remains on “church- and nation-building.” Over the last decade, nearly 4,000 churches have been renovated across the Carpathian Basin, with more than 200 new Christian churches built—a path the government pledges to continue.
Turning to the broader European context, PM Orbán noted that the continent, once known for its church-building culture, has become a “civilization of church demolishers.” He cited statistics revealing a sharp decline in church attendance and maintenance in countries like Germany and France, where hundreds of churches have been closed or demolished in recent decades.
Central Europe, however, remains resilient, he said, standing repeatedly because it understands that “if Christianity is lost, the homeland is lost too.”
Orbán concluded by emphasizing the non-negotiable values of migration, child-rearing, family, and national sovereignty, and welcomed recent election results in the Czech Republic as a sign that “the Czechs are awake.” He recalled the historical ties between the Czech and Hungarian peoples, including shared battles against invading forces centuries ago.
Expressing gratitude to the people of Veszprém, Orbán offered the government’s alliance for their future endeavors, stating, “The successes of the people of Veszprém have always been good for Hungary.”
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Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Kommunikációs Fõosztály/Fisher Zoltán
The post PM Sounds Alarm on Anti-Christian Forces, Celebrates Faith at Cathedral Reopening appeared first on Hungary Today.
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