Xploring Hungary: Orthodox Museum In Miskolc

13.07.2011

“This exhibition introduces the visitor to the history and cultural heritage of the Eastern Orthodox church with the help of goldsmith works, textiles, icons and documents. Rebuilt in 1805, the former school erected by the trading association in the grounds of the Miskolc Orthodox church has been home to the museum since 1988.

The exhibition called ‘The artistic and cultural heritage of the Hungarian Orthodox Church’ extends to three rooms full of ecclesiastic treasures originating from Orthodox churches and parishes in Budapest, Miskolc, Eger, Gyöngyös, Szentes, Kecskemét, Üröm, Karcag and Nyíregyháza.

The corridor of this small but rich museum holds a collection of church and school history pertaining to the Greek settlers who arrived in Hungary during the 17th-18th century. It is in particular their multifaceted cultural heritage which the museum showcases. The first room is actually the reconstruction of a chapel and reflects the atmosphere of the period when Orthodox believers gathered for liturgy in small chapels rather than in monumental Baroque churches. The copperplate consecration icons of the Orthodox churches in Hungary are kept here.

The second room contains woven and embroidered liturgical textiles and goldsmiths’ works. Of particular significance is a set of blankets woven with metal fibres in the Zuzana girls’ school in Constantinople. Some goldsmith works originate from the Balkans and from Venice, others were created in Hungary. A three-part set (chalice, altar cross and episcopal candlestick) created in 1721 in Moscopolis is a masterpiece of 15th-century Macedonian goldsmithery.

The third room displays a rich collection of goldsmith artwork and on the wall screens the icon collection is on view. Icon painting is guided by a strict canon of symbols and instruments. Up to the most minute details painters adhere to narrative and illustrated iconographic. By the 18th century in Hungary icons were only painted by a few workshops of a lesser standard; more significant works were commissioned from invited or itinerant icon painters. One of the most outstanding and beautiful pieces is a Suffering Mother of God created by a member of the Cretan-Venetian circle.

Today the Hungarian Orthodox Church’s headquarters are in Budapest and they have six parishes and three outparishes comprised of Orthodox believers mainly of Hungarian and Russian origin, belonging as they do to the Patriarchate of Moscow.”

This is part of the Xploring Hungary series sponsored by FoxAutorent, ‘The Leading Independent Car Rental Company In Hungary’. Save 5% on car rental by using the Fox Autorent booking engine on XpatLoop.com

How to get there:

By public transport, Miskolc is on the Budapest-Sátoraljaújhely, Budapest-Nyíregyháza railways line. The city is also available by coaches from Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Eger and Budapest. As a traffic hub, Miskolc has frequent bus or railway links with surrounding cities such as Edelény, Eger, Kazincbarcika, Mezőkövesd, Ózd, Sátoraljaújhely, Szerencs, Tiszaújváros, Tokaj, and Kosice/Kassa in Slovakia. By car, take the M3 motorway, from Ózd and Kazincbarcika Route 27, from Kosice/Kassa Road 3, from Sátoraljaújhely and Tokaj Route 37, and from Tiszaújváros-Debrecen Route 35.

Address:3525 Miskolc, Deák tér 7.
Phone:46/415-441
Opening times:Upon prior booking.
Contact:46/345-892

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