Wasn’t it fortunate that the church’s construction was completed? The Szent Lipót-templom stands proudly before us a testament to perseverance and faith. It’s a beautiful example of Baroque architecture. This church in Budafok-Belváros Budapest has a history stretching back almost three hundred years. It began as a small chapel. The chapel was dedicated to the “Helping Virgin”. This was in 1739. This was during the time when Budafok-Belváros was a developing settlement of tenant farmers. The growth of the village quickly outgrew the existing St Peter and Paul chapel. Empress Maria Theresa stepped in. She generously provided crucial support for the construction of a larger church. The cornerstone of the Szent Lipót-templom was laid in 1753.
The church’s patron saint is St Leopold III of Babenberg. He lived from around 1073 to 1136. He was known as the “mild Margrave”. He was a devout man. He staunchly supported the Pope. He played a key role in the Investiture Controversy. This controversy was about who had the right to appoint bishops the Pope or secular rulers. St Leopold was instrumental in the Concordat of Worms in 1122. This document settled the dispute between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. St Leopold founded several monasteries including Heiligenkreuz Abbey near Vienna. He was also a generous benefactor to other monasteries. He refused the crown offered by several Austrian provinces. He preferred a life of religious devotion. He died during a hunting accident. He’s buried in the crypt of the Klosterneuburg Abbey. The Catholic Church canonized him in 1485. He became Austria’s patron saint in 1683.
Empress Maria Theresa’s support wasn’t simply financial. She insisted the church be dedicated to St Leopold. This was a significant gesture. It underscored the Habsburg dynasty’s connection to the saint and its influence in Hungary. Maria Theresa donated the church’s beautiful red marble altar. It also features a large altarpiece depicting St Leopold. The altarpiece is possibly by Bartholomeus Altomonte. It’s considered to be a significant piece of art from the Lower Austrian school of painting. The altarpiece includes an image of the first Promontor church. It also depicts Maria Theresa herself as a young woman.
The Szent Lipót-templom has undergone several renovations and expansions throughout the centuries. A new nave was built and the old wooden tower was replaced. The church reached its current form by 1792. Later additions include side chapels and new stained-glass windows. However some of the stained-glass windows were lost during an explosion at the Weiss Manfred Works in Csepel in 1926. Today the Szent Lipót-templom stands as a beautiful and historic landmark. It reflects centuries of faith devotion and the enduring influence of its namesake. It is a silent witness to the history of Budafok. It continues to serve the community as a center of worship and spiritual life.