Alexander Rudnay
Encyclopedia
Sándor Rudnay de Rudnó et Divékujfalu (October 4, 1760, Heiligenkreuz (Hungarian Kingdom, today Slovakia Považany
) – September 13, 1831, Esztergom
) was a Slovak Catholic priest
, archbishop of Esztergom, and Cardinal who served in the Kingdom of Hungary
.
(Pressburg), philosophy
in Trnava
(Tyrnau), theology
in Buda
and, finally, in the general seminary in Pozsony.
He was ordained on October 12, 1783 in nagyszombat and, in April 1784, he received his doctor degree in theology. In January 1785 started his spiritual career, and he was sent as a chaplain
to Cseszte
, later he served in Garamszentbenedek
, Nagyszombat and Nyitrakoros
. In 1805 he became the canonical clergyman in Esztergom
, 1806 rector of the priest seminary in Trnava and, a theology professor, 1808 a titular bishop
, a general vicarius
in Esztergom, and a viceroy's councilor. He was appointed as the bishop
of Transylvania
seated in Gyulafehérvár
in 1816. In December 1819 Sándor Rudnay obtained the papal bull
with his nomination to archbishop of Esztergom
and primate of Hungary. Upon the emperor's personal request, he moved his seat 1820 from Nagyszombat to Esztergom
. He was further the member of the Table of the Lords, secretary of the royal chancellery, and of the Secret Council. He adhered to the imperial court in Vienna
and supported the Slovak culture, especially he saw that Slovak parishes were assigned to Slovak priests. In 1828, pope
Leo XII named him a Cardinal
. It is from this period that his most famous statement comes: „Slavus sum, et si in catedra Petri forem, Slavus ero.“ (I am a Slav, and I shall remain one, even if I were to sit in the Chair of Saint Peter.
this progressive clergyman supported the spiritual development of Slovaks and their national revival. Sándor Rudnay was one of few members of Hungarian high nobility that stuck to their Slovak origin and publicly proclaimed it. In 1822 as archbishop of Esztergom
and primas of Hungary
, he began the construction of the Esztergom Basilica
towards which he personally contributed with 800 000 forints. It is also the place of his final rest.
The square in front of St. Martin's Dome in Bratislava
was named in his honor.
In 2002, the Slovak Postal Office
issued a stamp with a face value of 17 crowns
in his remembrance.
Považany
Považany is a village and municipality in Nové Mesto nad Váhom District in the Trenčín Region of western Slovakia.-Geography:The municipality lies at an altitude of 177 metres and covers an area of 4.045km². It has a population of about 561 people....
) – September 13, 1831, Esztergom
Esztergom
Esztergom , is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there....
) was a Slovak Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, archbishop of Esztergom, and Cardinal who served in the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
.
Life
Sándor Rudnay was born to a family of lower nobility, and he studied in secondary school (gymnasium) in Nyitra, later in Emerican in BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(Pressburg), philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
(Tyrnau), theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
and, finally, in the general seminary in Pozsony.
He was ordained on October 12, 1783 in nagyszombat and, in April 1784, he received his doctor degree in theology. In January 1785 started his spiritual career, and he was sent as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to Cseszte
Casta
Casta is a Portuguese and Spanish term used in seventeenth and eighteenth centuries mainly in Spanish America to describe as a whole the mixed-race people which appeared in the post-Conquest period...
, later he served in Garamszentbenedek
Hronský Benadik
Hronský Beňadik is a village in central Slovakia...
, Nagyszombat and Nyitrakoros
Krušovce
Krušovce is a municipality in the Topoľčany District of the Nitra Region, Slovakia....
. In 1805 he became the canonical clergyman in Esztergom
Esztergom
Esztergom , is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there....
, 1806 rector of the priest seminary in Trnava and, a theology professor, 1808 a titular bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, a general vicarius
Vicarius
Vicarius is a Latin word, meaning substitute or deputy. It is the root and origin of the English word "vicar" and cognate to the Persian word most familiar in the variant vizier....
in Esztergom, and a viceroy's councilor. He was appointed as the bishop
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia is an archdiocese in Transylvania, Romania. It was established as the Diocese of Transylvania in 1009 by Stephen I of Hungary and was renamed as the Diocese of Alba Iulia on 22 March 1932...
of Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
seated in Gyulafehérvár
Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 66,747, located on the Mureş River. Since the High Middle Ages, the city has been the seat of Transylvania's Roman Catholic diocese. Between 1541 and 1690 it was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania...
in 1816. In December 1819 Sándor Rudnay obtained the papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
with his nomination to archbishop of Esztergom
Archdiocese of Esztergom
The archbishopric of Esztergom was a historical diocese created in 1000 under Stephen I of Hungary largely on the territory of Upper Hungary. After the Treaty of Trianon, its territory was reduced to its present-day extent and it became the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest on 31 May 1993...
and primate of Hungary. Upon the emperor's personal request, he moved his seat 1820 from Nagyszombat to Esztergom
Esztergom
Esztergom , is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there....
. He was further the member of the Table of the Lords, secretary of the royal chancellery, and of the Secret Council. He adhered to the imperial court in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and supported the Slovak culture, especially he saw that Slovak parishes were assigned to Slovak priests. In 1828, pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Leo XII named him a Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
. It is from this period that his most famous statement comes: „Slavus sum, et si in catedra Petri forem, Slavus ero.“ (I am a Slav, and I shall remain one, even if I were to sit in the Chair of Saint Peter.
Work
Inspired by the movement of EnlightenmentAge of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
this progressive clergyman supported the spiritual development of Slovaks and their national revival. Sándor Rudnay was one of few members of Hungarian high nobility that stuck to their Slovak origin and publicly proclaimed it. In 1822 as archbishop of Esztergom
Archdiocese of Esztergom
The archbishopric of Esztergom was a historical diocese created in 1000 under Stephen I of Hungary largely on the territory of Upper Hungary. After the Treaty of Trianon, its territory was reduced to its present-day extent and it became the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest on 31 May 1993...
and primas of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, he began the construction of the Esztergom Basilica
Esztergom Basilica
The Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert is an ecclesiastic basilica in Esztergom, Hungary, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary...
towards which he personally contributed with 800 000 forints. It is also the place of his final rest.
- Erköltsi Keresztény Oktatások különösen a fenyitö házakban raboskodónak remélhetö megjobbitásokra (Christian Moral Teachings especially for the Betterment of Prisoners), 1819
- Kázne príhodné, ai iné, to gest: 82 reči duchownich.. (Occasional and Other Sermons, i.e.: 82 spiritual speeches...), 1833
- various pastoral letters, speeches, preaching published individually
The square in front of St. Martin's Dome in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
was named in his honor.
In 2002, the Slovak Postal Office
Slovenská pošta
Slovenská pošta, a. s. is a state-owned company responsible for providing postal service in Slovakia established on January 1, 1993. It operates 1,566 post offices throughout the country. It is also the third largest employer in Slovakia. Since 1996, the headquarters are located in Banská Bystrica....
issued a stamp with a face value of 17 crowns
Slovak koruna
In 1993, coins were introduced in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 haliers, 1, 2, 5 and 10 korunas. The 10 and 20 halier coins were taken out of circulation on 31 December 2003....
in his remembrance.
External links
- Biography in Slovak
- CV in Slovak
- Postal Stamp with Alexander Rudnay
- http://www.obec-povazany.sk/node/24Web page of his native village PovažanyPovažanyPovažany is a village and municipality in Nové Mesto nad Váhom District in the Trenčín Region of western Slovakia.-Geography:The municipality lies at an altitude of 177 metres and covers an area of 4.045km². It has a population of about 561 people....
]