Resting peacefully on the southern walls of Buda Castle stands the Sz\u0171z M\u00e1ria szobra Statue. It depicts the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus. This artwork is quite different from other Virgin Mary statues in Hungary.
The Sz\u0171z M\u00e1ria szobra Statue is four meters high. The scaled-down version of the statue can be seen in the Castle Gallery. This replica is man-sized. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 M\u00e1ty\u00e1ssy created the artwork.
Notice how the child Jesus is hovering. He is in front of his mother’s body. This depicts the mystery of the immaculate conception. It represents the wonder surrounding it.
The original church on this site was founded by St Stephen. He was the first king of Hungary. It was called the Church of Our Lady. St Stephen declared the Virgin Queen. She became the Patroness of Hungary. He was the first monarch to dedicate his country this way. That church was destroyed by the Mongols in 1241.
King B\u00e9la IV founded St. Matthias’ church. This happened after the Mongol invaders left Hungary in 1242. Not much remained of the original building. This was due to expansions and wars. Reconstructions also took their toll.
Let me tell you about the Black Madonna connection. The Sz\u0171z M\u00e1ria szobra Statue is a copy of the Loreto Madonna. In 1541 the Turks occupied Buda. They turned the Church of Our Lady into a mosque.
The faithful credit the Black Madonna. They say she miraculously recaptured Budapest. This was done by the united Christian army in 1686. Legend says the people walled in the statue. It was placed inside its niche. This was done so the Turks wouldn’t find it.
During the recapture in 1686, an explosion demolished the walls. This revealed the Virgin’s shining face. The Turks took this as a bad omen. They gave up this part of the castle without a fight.
Today the Sz\u0171z M\u00e1ria szobra Statue stands as a symbol. It represents faith and resilience. It reminds us of the city’s history. It also reflects the devotion to the Virgin Mary. Take a moment to appreciate the artistry and the story. It embodies the spirit of Budapest.