Washed ashore by a Danube flood a statue of Mary appeared. This is the story of the Kővi Szűz Mária Statue. It began in 1811. A flood deposited a statue of the Virgin Mary near today’s Kaszásdűlő. An Óbudai stone carver Bauer Jakab found it. He secured it to a Roman aqueduct pillar. The statue quickly became known as “Maria am Stein” Mary on the Stone.
In 1843 a protective iron grate was added. This shielded the statue from the elements. A German inscription appeared in the following years. It read “Siehe Mensch und besuche Maria auf den Stein komm zu mir in allen Nöten und ich will euer Trost sein 1845”. See man and visit Mary on the stone. Come to me in all your needs and I will be your comfort.
By 1865 the statue needed a chapel. A small chapel was built around it. Ziegler József was the master builder. It was built in the neo-Romanesque style. The chapel had stained glass windows. Locals called it the Maria-kő chapel. The chapel held occasional masses until 1921. Then masses became regular. A roof and a porch protected worshippers from bad weather.
Soon the chapel became too small. It was a popular pilgrimage site. In 1930 the chapel was enlarged. It was consecrated on September 8th. Mészáros János performed the consecration. A sacristy was built. A portico with columns was added to the main facade. The city permitted an expansion to 800 seats. The actual expansion was smaller.
Throughout the 20th century urban development threatened the chapel. The widening of the Szentendrei út and changes to the HÉV line threatened demolition. There were plans to move it. The Monuments Committee refused both demolition and relocation. The foundations were made of Roman stones.
The Maria-kő was moved in 1932. A dispute arose over road improvements. Peisz Lajos the first priest conspired with one committee. They moved the statue about 10 meters overnight.
In 1933 the priest petitioned to upgrade the chapel. It officially became an independent parish in 1936. It was called the Maria-kő parish. Baptisms were allowed the following year. By 1938 it was referred to as Kővi Mária. The first church groups formed. In 1942 it was elevated to parish status. Its title was the Sacred Heart of Mary.
The parish boundaries were defined in 1942. In 1943 the church was consecrated. Budapest became its patron. Peisz Lajos became the first parish priest. Its feast day became September 12th.
After World War II Peisz Lajos was deported. Dörnyei Vilmos served as his substitute. The church suffered minor damage. It was quickly repaired. In 1947 the church underwent major renovation. The Mary statue was restored.
Peisz Lajos received an appointment in 1957. He became a canon in 1958. Lehotay Imre replaced him. Dobszay László was a cantor.
The church was renovated in 1965 for its centenary. An oil base was created to prevent staining from groundwater. The sanctuary’s Mary statue was restored. The frame was re-gilded. Peisz Lajos died before its completion. Lehotay Imre oversaw the renovations. The restored church was blessed by Swartz-Eggenhofer Artúr. The original statue was removed. It was too damaged to restore. A copy created by the Museum of Fine Arts replaced it.
In 1971 Hungarian mass replaced Latin mass. Lehotay Imre died in 1980. Vigassy Mihály became the third parish priest. The Kővi Choir was formed in 1981. The parish received permission for off-site religious education in 1982. The name Kővi Szűz Mária was allowed for the parish and the community. Two side altars were added. An extension was built. The interior was updated. It was blessed in 1989.
The Kővi Szűz Mária Statue stands as a testament to faith resilience and the enduring power of a simple stone Mary.