What if the stones of 4. Stáció could speak? They would tell a story spanning centuries. This station is part of the Kiscell Calvary in Óbuda. The Calvary is one of Budapest’s oldest Ways of the Cross.
Easter marks the most important holiday for Christians. For centuries, they have walked the Way of the Cross on Good Friday. They remember Jesus’ suffering on Golgotha in Jerusalem. Once, Buda and Pest had several calvaries. Many can still be found in the city. They commemorate this significant event.
The Kiscell Calvary weaves above Bécsi Road. It is one of the oldest calvaries in Óbuda. A stone-railed stairway begins at Saint Margaret Hospital. It leads to the Kiscelli Museum. This was once a Trinitarian monastery. The 14-station Way of the Cross starts here. The path continues along Doberdó Road. The blue cross leads to the Golgotha statues. Finally, it arrives at the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
The Calvary’s history started in the mid-18th century. This coincided with the building of the Kiscell Museum. Construction occurred between 1745 and 1758. In the 1770s-80s, a statue of the suffering Christ decorated the road. Between 1812 and 1814, the Chapel of the Holy Blood replaced it. The Calvary and its 14 stations were built between 1820 and 1822. They were intended for Óbuda’s German-speaking population.
There are three crosses on the Calvary. Jesus stands in the middle. A thief is on either side. Statues of Mary and John surround Jesus’ cross. Over time, the chapel, stations, and statues suffered damage. In 1910, a fire destroyed the chapel’s roof. Abbot Parish Priest József Sagmüller repaired the damage. He also addressed damage from 1929.
The Nemzeti Ujság described the Kiscell Calvary in 1923. It mentioned the crosses of Golgotha rising to the spring sky. Two old men walked the Way of the Cross silently. The newspaper also recalled big Easter Sunday celebrations in the area.
Képes Vasárnap reported in 1943. It described the rain washing away paint from the stations. The last station stood under the Golgotha mound. It led to the wooden-towered chapel. Candles burned on the altar.
The Golgotha sculpture needed repeated repairs. It was renovated in 1981 and 1996. The chapel was renovated in 2006. By the early 2010s, the sculpture needed another renovation. Parts had broken off. A complete renovation occurred in 2013 and 2014. Sculptures and stations were restored. Original colours were repainted.
Local painter Tihamér Vízi initiated the restoration. János Seres and Endre Szőnyi were sculptors. Ferenc Miklós Szendrői, Melinda Vass, and Judit Szilvási were decorative painters. Sculptor-restorer Péter Szűcs also helped. Painter Tibor Bráda completed the paintings of the 14 stations.
Today, the site is popular. The faithful, tourists, and hikers visit it. The Calvary has regained its splendour. It stands as one of Budapest’s old-new jewels. Take your time to reflect on the journey represented here at 4. Stáció. Remember the history and the artistry.