A whisper of history brushes against you. You stand before the Magyarok Nagyasszonya-kápolna. This unassuming building holds a remarkable tale a story of resilience and faith.
The chapel’s history is deeply intertwined with the Regnum Marianum society. In 1900 Bishop Gusztáv Majláth of Transylvania purchased a three-story building on Damjanich Street number 50. He offered it to the community. The chapel was built into the U-shaped building’s open area. It was completed in 1903. In March 1919 the Regnum was communized. Authorities wanted to desecrate the chapel. Cardinal János Csernoch elevated it to parish status. This protected it from harm because parish churches were untouched.
Tragedy struck during World War II. In July 1944 the chapel was destroyed. A makeshift place of worship was arranged in the building’s basement. This is where services continued. However from November 24 1951 to January 6 1957 the chapel ceased to exist. The entire building became an industrial apprentice college.
Later a basement room became available. The building then belonged to the MAV retirement home. The society’s president Sándor Várkonyi offered the space for a chapel. It was ready in the spring of 1957 under Father László Rózsa völgyi. After the arrest of Fathers László Rózsa völgyi József Jandik and Márton Pantol the chapel was closed. Church leadership appointed Fr János Tóth as the administrator. He kept it closed for a long time. The faithful pleaded with Bishop Mihály Endrey to reopen it. He agreed saying every bishop deserves a private chapel.
György Dózsa’s brother lived nearby. Dózsa frequently visited and chose this chapel as his private chapel. In early September 1957 Bishop Endrey appointed Father János Döme. During his time the first pews were created. These featured wrought iron work by young Zoltán Sóti. New liturgical vestments were also made.
After his dismissal in 1961 Father Döme was arrested. In June Father György Polonkai took over. New pews were crafted under his watch. A frescoed altar painting showed St Stephen offering the country to the Holy Virgin. Stained glass windows depicted St Stephen and St Gellért. A terracotta statue of St Rita was added. A painting of the Madonna of Mátyás was created by Péter Barba. An oil painting of Pope John Paul I was painted by Emil Vén.
The city allowed the church to use the ground-floor cultural hall before the building was returned. This was for a yearly rent of 60000 Ft. In 1992 the chapel returned to its original location. The independent administration ended. The chapel was attached to the Dominican Church in 1995. In December 2004 the building was returned to the Archdiocese. This permitted the use of vacant apartments. These became a community hall and a sacristy. Donations furnished them.
The Regnum spirit endures. Former Regnum members hold regular meetings in the chapel. The faithful identify as Regnum members. They often sing the Regnum hymn Maria our Mother. Its words of faith and struggle echo through the years. This small chapel’s story is a testament to the enduring power of faith. It’s a story whispered on the wind a story etched in the very stones of this remarkable place the Magyarok Nagyasszonya-kápolna.