Debrecen Reformed Theological University
| Motto | Orando et Laborando |
|---|---|
|
Motto in English
|
Praying and Working |
| Type | Church University |
| Established | 1538 |
| Rector | Károly Fekete |
| Students | 1,200 |
| Location | Debrecen, Hungary |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | 'Universitas Association' of Debrecen |
| Website | drhe.hu |
Coordinates: 47°32′3″N 21°37′35″E / 47.53417°N 21.62639°E
The Debrecen Reformed Theological University (Hungarian: Debreceni Református Hittudományi Egyetem), in English translation also known as Debrecen University of Reformed Theology (but the first form is the official English name) is originated from the Debrecen Reformed College of historical importance (founded in 1538). The University is one of the Hungarian centres for Protestant theological training, with a major interest in training ministers for the Reformed Church in Hungary. In September 2011 the Ferenc Kölcsey Teacher Training College of the Reformed Church integrated into the University.
Theology was taught in the Debrecen Reformed College (Debreceni Református Kollégium in Hungarian) right from its foundation in 1538. In a document from the general synod of the Reformed Church is talking about the high expectations to theological training in the institute:
"As the schools are gardens of the church (seminarium ecclesiae)… the languages, Latin and Greek grammar (as well as Hebrew, if possible), dialectics, rhetorics, and the free arts should be taught, these are necessary for theological studies. Then theology and the Scriptures are also to be presented to the students…"[1]
The college educated generations of ministers to the Calvinist parishes in Hungary and Transylvania in the last almost five centuries.
The Hungarian Parliament – based on the existing higher education of the Reformed College – founded the Hungarian Royal University of Debrecen in 1912 (now University of Debrecen), which was settled in the building of the College. One of the three sections of this new institute was the Faculty of Reformed Theology. [2]. In the following decades the University had various names (according to the dominating political directions) but the theological training remained within the university until the rule of the Communist Party.
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