Julianus barát Statue

Who ventured east in 1235, seeking the origins of the Hungarian people? Let’s unravel the story of Friar Julianus, whose statue stands before us. The Julianus barát Statue, nestled within the historic Buda Castle district, commemorates a remarkable journey into the unknown. This statue, sculpted by Károly Antal, originally stood in Fisherman’s Bastion. It was moved here in 1975, finding a home on the north wall of the former Saint Miklós Monastery Church. Julianus, a Dominican friar, embarked on not one, but two expeditions to the east. He aimed to find Magna Hungaria, the ancestral homeland of the Hungarians. His first journey, in 1235, took him through Constantinople, across the Black Sea, and into the Caucasus region. He spent months searching, even reaching an Islamic city called Bunda where his companion, Gerhardus, tragically died. Julianus persevered. Guided by a Hungarian woman he met in the Volga-Kama region, he finally reached Magna Hungaria in 1236. He spent four weeks there, learning about their lives and customs. He discovered that they lived a nomadic life, relying on hunting and horses. He even encountered an envoy of the Mongol Khan, learning of their plans to invade Europe. This chilling news hastened his return to Hungary, bearing a warning for King Béla IV. Julianus’s statue depicts him pointing eastward, a perpetual reminder of his arduous journey. Beside him, Gerhardus kneels, a poignant tribute to the companion lost along the way. Look closely at the base. You’ll find an inscription: “FRATRES JULIANUS ET GERARDUS EXPLORATORES MAGNAE HUNGARIAE 1235-1238.” Inside the sanctuary wall, six tablets recount the friars’ journey in multiple languages. The Julianus barát Statue stands as a testament to a courageous explorer who sought the roots of his people, and unwittingly uncovered a looming threat.