Unitarian Church of Transylvania Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Unitarian Church of Transylvania
Official insignia of the Unitarian Church of Transylvania
Type	Nontrinitarian Christianity
Classification	Radical Protestant
Orientation	Unitarianism
Theology	Summa Universae Theologiae Christianae secundum Unitarios
Polity	Quasi-episcopal
Bishop	Rev. István Kovács
Associations	International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, European Liberal Protestant Network
Region	Romania, Hungary
Headquarters	Unitarian Church, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Founder	Ferenc Dávid;
Origin	1568
Separated from	Hungarian Reformed Church
Members	60,000 in Romania 25,000 in Hungary
Secondary schools	2
Tertiary schools	Protestant Theological Institute of Cluj
Other name(s)	Hungarian Unitarian Church
Official website	www.unitarius.org

The Unitarian Church of Transylvania (Hungarian: Erdélyi Unitárius Egyház; Romanian: Biserica Unitariană din Transilvania) is a Christian church based in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania. It is also known as the Hungarian Unitarian Church. This church is part of the Unitarian tradition, which means its members do not believe in the Holy Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

The church was started in 1568 by a preacher named Ferenc Dávid. This makes it the oldest Unitarian Christian church in the world that is still active today. Most of its followers are from the Hungarian community. The Romanian government officially recognizes it as one of 18 religious groups.

What is the Unitarian Church?
- How the Church is Organized
- Learning and Education
Where Unitarians Live
- Unitarian Communities in Transylvania
A Look at Unitarian History
- Early Beginnings and Challenges
- Connecting with Unitarians Worldwide
Famous Unitarian Churches
Images for kids
See also

What is the Unitarian Church?

The Unitarian Church of Transylvania is unique because it is not organized like most other Unitarian churches. Instead of being led by local groups, it is led by bishops. This is similar to how some older Christian churches are structured.

How the Church is Organized

The church is managed by a bishop and two Curators-General. It is divided into five areas, each led by a head priest called an Archpriest. Since 2021, the bishop has been Rev. István Kovács. The church uses the Hungarian language for its services and teaches its beliefs using a special book called a catechism.

Learning and Education

The Unitarian Church works with other Protestant churches in Romania. They all help run the Protestant Theological Institute of Cluj. Here, Unitarianism has its own special section for studies. The church also has two high schools that teach theology, which is the study of religious faith.

Where Unitarians Live

In 2002, about 66,846 people in Romania identified as Unitarian. This was about 0.3% of the country's total population. However, church leaders believe the actual number of followers is higher, possibly between 80,000 and 100,000.

Unitarian Communities in Transylvania

Most Unitarian church members live in the Transylvania region of Romania. They are mainly found between the towns of Sighișoara and Odorheiu Secuiesc, especially around Dârjiu. The church is very strong in places like Dârjiu, Atid, Cristuru Seciesc, Feliceni, Inlăceni, and Mugeni. In these areas, Unitarians make up a large part of the population.

Since the 1700s, the Unitarian Church has had many local communities. In 2006, there were 110 Unitarian priests and 141 places of worship in Romania.

A Look at Unitarian History

An old fresco inside the church in Dârjiu, from before it became Unitarian.

The Unitarian Church was first officially recognized in 1568 by a special law called the Edict of Torda. This law was issued by the Transylvanian parliament, which was led by John II Sigismund Zápolya, a Unitarian ruler. Ferenc Dávid, who used to be a Calvinist bishop, became the first leader of the church. He started teaching the new Unitarian ideas in 1566.

Early Beginnings and Challenges

In its early days, the Unitarian Church grew quickly. It had 425 local communities and used the large St. Michael's Church in Cluj-Napoca. Many members of the Székely community in eastern Transylvania joined the church.

However, other established religions, both Catholic and Protestant, saw Unitarianism as wrong. After Ferenc Dávid was put in prison and died in 1579, the church faced difficulties. Later, in 1658, many Unitarian-like Christians from Poland, called Socinian Polish Brethren, came to Transylvania seeking safety. They had been forced to leave their home country. The Transylvanian church kept in touch with these scattered groups in other countries.

In the 1730s, the church was reorganized and strengthened by Mihály Lombard de Szentábrahám. He wrote the church's official statement of faith, called the Summa Universae Theologiae Christianae secundum Unitarios.

Connecting with Unitarians Worldwide

After World War I, when Transylvania became part of Romania, Unitarian communities also started in other parts of Romania. For example, the first Unitarian church in Bucharest was founded in 1933.

In the 1800s, Unitarians in America and Britain learned about the church in Transylvania. This happened after Alexander Farkas visited Pennsylvania in 1831 and wrote about the Transylvanian Unitarians. In 1899, the American Unitarian Association invited the Transylvanian church leaders to the first conference of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). Since then, Transylvanian Unitarian leaders have attended almost all IARF meetings. In 1975, they even hosted the IARF's executive committee in Cluj-Napoca. The Transylvanian Unitarian Church is also a founding member of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.

Famous Unitarian Churches

The town of Dârjiu is home to a fortified church from the 13th century. This church later became Unitarian and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, you can see old paintings from when it was a Roman Catholic church. These paintings show stories, like the legend of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. Other Unitarian churches in the region with interesting murals can be found in Mugeni, Crăciunel, Rugănești, and Cristuru Secuiesc.

Images for kids

The Unitarian Church in Brașov
The Unitarian Church in Cluj-Napoca
The Unitarian Church in Dârjiu
Ceiling of the Unitarian Church in Inlăceni, with a statement written in Old Hungarian script
The Unitarian Church in Șimonești
The Unitarian Church in Târnăveni
The Unitarian Church in Târgu Mureș