Orthodoxy in Hungary

Orthodox Christianity was historically one of the most important religions in Hungary. Now Eastern Orthodoxy in Hungary is the religion mainly of some national and ethnic minorities in the country. In the 2001 national census only 15,928 persons declared themselves Orthodox Christians (0.21% of the people with declared religious affiliation and 0.15% of the whole population).

Between the middle of the 10th and the beginning of 13th century, medieval Hungary had close political and cultural ties with Byzantine Empire. During that period, there was significant presence of Eastern Orthodoxy in some southern and eastern parts of medieval Kingdom of Hungary.

In 1440, Hungarian king Ladislaus the Posthumous granted special privileges to Eastern Orthodox Christians for the establishment of the Serbian Kovin Monastery. In 1481 and 1495, during the times of Turkish invasions, Hungarian kings Matthias Corvinus and Vladislaus II have granted special privileges to Eastern Orthodox Christians in order to secure demographic recovery and improve the defenses of southern frontiers.

Historically, from the late Middle Ages up to the beginning of 20th century, the territory of Hungary has been the exclusive jurisdiction of Serbian Orthodox Church through the Eparchy of Buda, created in 16th century and centrally located in the town of Sentandreja at Virgin's Cathedral (Belgrade Cathedral).

Now there are other jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church also active in Hungary.

The Russian Orthodox Church has the Budapest and Hungarian Eparchy headed by Archbishop Mark, whose see is in Budapest. The Budapest and Hungarian Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church has eleven parishes, with eight priests and one deacon.

The Romanian Orthodox Church has the Orthodox Eparchy of Hungary headed by Bishop Silian Mănuilă, whose see is in Gyula.

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Wikipedia