“A sanctuary carved from an unlikely space,” whispered a woman to her companion, gesturing towards Szent Család-kápolna. “Imagine, a chapel birthed from a former stable.” Szent Család-kápolna stands as a testament to the power of faith and community. In the aftermath of World War I, Budapest’s population surged. The need for more spiritual spaces became clear. A visionary woman named Anna Désy, née Samassa, spearheaded a project to establish small chapels throughout the city. She envisioned 24 of these sanctuaries. Each was given the name of a flower. The Dalnok Street chapel became the “őszirózsa” or Autumn Rose Chapel Association. In 1921, Maria Hermann generously offered her stable on Dalnok Street (now Székely Bertalan Street) for the chapel. The community rallied together, raising funds and transforming the space. On December 18, 1921, Papal Nuncio Lorenzo Schioppa blessed the newly consecrated Szent Család-kápolna. The chapel initially served as an extension of the Terézváros Church. It quickly became an independent parish in 1922 due to the growing congregation. Even in those early years, the small chapel struggled to accommodate its burgeoning community. The need for a larger space became evident. The dream of a grand church took root. A plot of land on Vilma Királynő Road (now Városligeti fasor) was purchased. However, building permits were denied, forcing them to settle for a smaller area on Szondi Street. The unique challenge was to design a church that fit within the existing urban landscape, rather than the other way around. The groundbreaking ceremony for Szent Család-templom took place on September 28, 1930.
Zsíros-hegy
From Zsíros-hegy’s peak a breathtaking panorama unfolds. Zsíros-hegy a mountain in the Buda Hills stands proudly. Its 424-meter height offers