A református egyház első évtizede Kárpátalja szovjetizálásának idején (1944–1954)

Abstract

Tanulmányom elsődleges célja a Magyarországi Református Egyház testéből a XX. század első felében – immár második alkalommal – erőszakkal kiszakított kárpátaljai reformátusság 1944–1954 közötti életének egyházi levéltári adatok alapján történő eseménytörténeti rekonstrukciója, a sztálini egyházellenes politika kárpátaljai sajátosságainak a bemutatása mellett.

Abstract. The early 20th century gave some very serious tragedy for the Calvinist Hungarians in Transcarpathia. The Soviet Terror Machine’s cruel lie wrote the line of the events with hungarian men’s blood in Transcarpathia. Heroes and martyrs were becoming by forced labor and merciless religious persecution. The forced labor and merciless religious persecution could not achieved its goal, victims and sufferers have become martyrs, survivors are heroes of the Church. We could say that 1944 was the year of cataclysms. Managing secular leaders of Church, the majority of religious teachers of denominational schools, and dozens of pastors were fled from the renascent red terror which came with autumn campaign of 1944. At the autumn of 1944 the soviet regime start the deportation of local Hungarian population. Fifteen thousand Church members were transfered to forced labor called ’málenkij robot’ in the Soviet Union’s GUPVI camps. Between of 1944 and 1954 the Soviet state power had deprived all the assets of the Church. Denominational schools, parsonages, temples and land assets were confiscated. During this time the Soviet Administration of Religious Affairs forced upon to change the centuries-old rule of law, they wanted to use the soviet anti-religious laws. Parishes registered themself as the law required, the uncertain relationship was turned legally sound between the State Power and the Transcarpathian Reformed Church. Between of 1946 and 1951 the Office of State Security in Ukraine was arrested nineteen pastor. The show trials always ended with conviction, the sentence was 4-25 year forced labor with total confiscation of property. Three of the arrested pastors died in the GULAG camps.Memory of our Martyrs confirm the message of the Church: Faith in Jesus is a precious privilege, for not only live, but also to die for. Persecution and the anti-religious will of Stalin could not annihilate the Transcarpatian Reformed Congregations. This is a proof of God’s power and grace.