Holy Crown returned to Hungary 30 years ago

The Holy Crown of King Stephen I, the most important symbol of Hungarian statehood, was returned to Hungary from the United States 30 years ago. The crown of Saint Stephen (r. 1000-1038), the state-founding king, and other coronation regalia were taken abroad shortly before the end of the Second World War. They were safeguarded at Fort Knox for several decades, then returned to Hungary under a decision by Jimmy Carter, the then U.S. president. The initiative provoked sharp debates both in Congress and among Hungarian emigres who saw the step as a recognition of the socialist regime.

The Hungarian government accepted the U.S. conditions that the crown and the coronation regalia should be handed over in the absence of communist party leader Janos Kadar and displayed in public.

Secretary of State Cyrus Vance presented the crown and other coronation regalia to Speaker of Parliament Antal Apro.

The Holy Crown, the sceptre and the orb are now on display in the Parliament building, at a place accessible to the public.

The anniversary will be marked with a holy mass in Matthias Church at 1000 on Sunday, with the choir and the orchestra of the church performing Franz Liszt`s Hungarian Coronation Mass.

www.budapesttimes.hu - Sunday, January 06, 2008