GARDEN RUINS - NATIONAL MEMORIAL PLACE OF HUNGARY

THE MEMORIAL PLACE

The Archdeaconry of the Virgin Mary established by Saint StephenThe Archdeaconry of the Virgin Mary in Székesfehérvár is associated with the name of Saint Stephen (997-1038). It was here along the trade and pilgrimage routes in Transdanubia that our first king established his residence and final resting place. The burial Church of the Virgin Mary also served as the royal chapel and had its own archdeaconry subordinate to the Archbishop of Esztergom. The “Royal Basilica” as it is called today, is a testimony to great importance, and not only in terms of its size. Rich in liturgical objects, the church has for centuries been the repository of the symbols of Hungary’s Christian kingdom and provided a home for the royal treasury and relics. Saint Stephen paid particular attention to its establishment, which greatly influenced the future of this archdeaconry. His descendants began their respective reigns in the vicinity of his tomb on the throne bearing his name. Following the canonization of Stephen and his son Prince Emeric (Imre) in 1083, this became the official site of coronation ceremonies and by the late middle-ages the church functioned as a burial ground both for kings and important officials of the Roman Catholic church. Court sessions were held here as well as the activities of the Archdeaconry contributing to the church becoming a symbol of the Christian kingdom in the eyes of Stephen’s contemporaries. The architecture and interior decoration of the Church of the Virgin Mary were by all accounts worthy of its strong historical significance. Unfortunately, those visiting the site today see little evidence of its original splendor. The building complex was largely destroyed during the Turkish Conquest and the battles that followed, leaving behind the ruins currently visible. Generations of archaeologists and historians have pored over the remains in an effort to recall the golden days of medieval Székesfehérvár, a time that inspires pride in local inhabitants to this day.