Didn’t this church dedicated to Saint Therese of Lisieux capture your attention? The Lisieux-i Szent Teréz templom stands as a testament to faith and architectural beauty. It is located on Kerepesi Street in Budapest’s District VIII.
Let’s delve into the story of the Lisieux-i Szent Teréz templom. A Temple Building Committee formed in 1919. Construction concluded in 1928. Gyula Petrovácz designed it. The church covers 573 square meters. The parishes of Kőbánya, the Dominicans, and Zugló gave land. This created the parish for the Lisieux-i Szent Teréz templom.
Picture this: it’s the early 20th century. Rákoskeresztúr is emerging as a settlement. It is populated by Budapest officials and affluent citizens. They initially worshiped in a kindergarten. In 1924, Mrs. László Toldy established a foundation. Its goal was to fund a church. The foundation started with 100,000 crowns. In 1928, the community donated land. The community retained ownership. But the church gained easement rights.
The church community formed in 1925. The Temple Building Committee started in 1928. Architect and professor László Irsy designed the initial church. The cornerstone was placed in 1934. Bishop István Haász consecrated it in May 1937. The church spanned 660 square meters.
Sadly, the founding pastor, Lászlo Béky, did not live to see the consecration. He passed away six months prior. József Richter, the pastor of Rákoskeresztúr, cared for the community. An independent chaplaincy formed in 1941. It became a parish in 1948.
Jenő Grantner created the main altar. He sculpted Saint Therese and two reliefs. Zsigmond Kisfaludi-Stróbl created a sculpture. It is titled “Christ Falls with the Cross”. It adorns the exterior wall of Lisieux-i Szent Teréz templom.
In 1974, Gyula Csibi redesigned the liturgical space. The church was painted inside and out in 1979. Professor Antal Nemcsics created the interior painting plan. The roof was completely replaced in 1997. The facade was also painted.
A house was purchased for the parish in 1940. The church community still owns it today. The parish transferred. It went from the Diocese of Vác to the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest in 1993.
Today, the Lisieux-i Szent Teréz templom stands as a beacon of faith. It enriches Budapest’s spiritual and architectural landscape. The church’s feast day is the first Sunday of October. Adoration occurs on April 22nd and October 3rd. The Lisieux-i Szent Teréz templom’s story is one of community, devotion, and artistic expression.