Students' Solidarity with Syria

2020. február 18., tags: armenian evangelical community in syria, syria, Middle East, education, middle east, campaign

Students’ Donation Campaign for Syrian schools hits 10-years High in history of the Reformed Educational Fund in the Carpathian Basin. Students and teachers of Hungarian reformed schools raised more than 60 000 USD for the renovation of Syrian evangelical schools.

School for Christmas

2020. január 07., tags: armenian evangelical community in syria, syria, Middle East, middle east, campaign, union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne)

The students and teachers at the Damascus school of our Armenian partner church awaited Christmas under a roof in need of repairs, in dilapidated classrooms with inadequate heating. This matters because education is of key significance when it comes to the peaceful coexistence of various groups and religions in the Middle East. Our on-the-scene reporting covers the beneficiary of this year’s fundraising by the Reformed Educational Fund in the Carpathian Basin.

Reformed Schools’ Campaign for Syria

2019. november 21., tags: hungarian reformed church(hrc), general convent, armenian evangelical community in syria, syria, General Convent

This year we celebrate the 10 year Reformed Educational Fund that aims to express and strengthen the solidarity within the Hungarian Reformed Community by supporting Reformed educational projects throughout the Carpathian Basin. In gratitude for the past 10 year, now the fund will support the renovation of the Armenian Evangelical School in Damascus.

We Are Not Small

2019. június 25., tags: middle east, syria, interview, Middle East

The Reformed Congregation in Szentendre has begun building relations with a congregation in Syria. They would like to send financial aid, and perhaps, even travel to the war-torn country. We asked Rev. András Harmathy about the details.

Life Returning to Syria

2019. április 29., tags: partnership, syria, middle east, Middle East

In late March, a sizeable delegation visited the Evangelical churches of Lebanon and Syria, signing memoranda of commitment. We have asked the delegates about their experiences in the Middles East, including the situation of local Christians as well as the significance and further possibilities of cooperation.

Going Against Traffic on the Damascus Road

2019. április 29., tags: Middle East, middle east, syria, partnership

We have visited the 2000-year-old Christian memorials of Syria’s capital, as well as its Armenian and Arab-speaking Evangelical communities. Our brothers and sisters experienced the spiritual journey of Paul during the years of war: they gained a new kind of sight amid their suffering that sets an example for us as well.

The Persecuted Becoming Peacemakers

2019. április 24., tags: syria, interview, middle east, partnership, Middle East

People have a will to live even among ruins, according to Bishop István Bogárdi Szabó, who, as part of a delegation, has recently visited civil-war-torn Syria. The church leader feels that the efforts of Christians in the Middle East are exemplary, and it is now our turn to help the victims of the destruction caused by the war.  

An Easter Greeting from Syria

2019. április 17., tags: union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne), syria, middle east, Middle East

We share the Easter greetings of Rev. Haroutune Selimian, president of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria, in the spirit of friendship and shared hope for the future of Syria.

Christian Solidarity at Test in Syria

2019. április 05., tags: union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne), middle east, national evangelical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), partnership, Middle East, syria

The delegation of the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH) continued its travel from Lebanon into Syria. The delegation visited local congregations in Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo to learn more of the ministries of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) and the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria. Short account of a challenging journey.

Christians in Syria: God With Us

2019. április 02., tags: syria, Middle East, partnership, national evangelical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), middle east, union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne)

We have been contributing to the rebuilding of a church building and a congregation centre in Aleppo, Syria: the roof structure of the Armenian Evangelical community’s oldest church has been renovated partially with the help of Hungarian Reformed funds, and the Arab-speaking Presbyterian community’s new congregation centre is planned with support from the government of Hungary. The locals feel that these instances of support prove that God is indeed taking care of them in a tangible way.

New Level of Commitment

2019. március 28., tags: hungarian reformed church (hrc), syria, lebanon, Hungarian Reformed Church (hrc)

RCH delegation led by Presiding Bishop István Szabó is in Lebanon for conversations with church leaders of NESSL and UAECNE before visiting Syria. As a sign of the unique relationship with the Reformed Churches in the Middle East, the church leaders of the RCH signed a bilateral memorandum with church leaders of NESSL and with those of UAECNE on March 27.

HRCA Donation Campaign for Syria

2019. március 04., tags: Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA), hungarian reformed church aid (hrca), union of armenian evangleical churches in thenear east (uaecne), hungarian reformed church aid (HRCA), rch, Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (hrca), syria, armenian evangelical community in syria, national evangelical synod of syria and lebanon(nessl)

Maintaining the partnership with the Reformed communities in the Middle East, the HRCA expands the donation campaign to support not only the community programs like the Sunday school project, but also various humanitarian programs.

HEKS Conference on Church Cooperation

2019. január 31., tags: church cooperation, national evangelical synod of syria and leabnon (nessl), syria, HEKS, armenian evangelical communities in syria, heks, fellowship of evangelical churches in the middle east (fmeec), union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne)

In January, HEKS/EPER, the aid organization of the Swiss Protestant Churches, held a conference in Zurich, Switzerland, focusing on the cooperative work with the FMEEC. Representing the RCH, Rev. Balázs Ódor led a workshop detailing the partnership and cooperation between the RCH and the churches in the Middle East through HEKS.

Hope for Peace and Renewal

2018. december 11., tags: union of armenian evangelical churchesin the near east (uaecne), armenian evangelical community in syria, syria, middle east, Middle East

In celebration of the completion of major restoration, the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church held a rededication service on 2 December 2018 in Aleppo, Syria. Hundreds of worshippers were present, as well as high-ranking religious, community, and state leaders. The RCH also shares this joyous celebration in spirit.

Growing Partnership in the Middle East

2018. október 24., tags: armenian evangelical community in syria, syria, Middle East, partnership, national evangelical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), partership visit, middle east

Through many years of mutual collaboration, the partnership of the Reformed Church in Hungary and the Reformed churches in the Middle East only grows stronger. A highlight of this long-standing partnership is the recent visit of Syrian church leaders to discuss opportunities of further cooperation.

Suffering Gave Us Purpose

2018. október 19., tags: joseph kassab, national evangleical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne), harout selimian, middle east, interview, Middle East, syria

Does a pastor think about running away when war breaks out? Does your religion matter at the market in Aleppo? How did suffering and the past change the members of the Reformed Churches in Syria and how do they see their future? Among others these were the topics Rev. Joseph Kassab, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Rev. Haroutune Selimian, President of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria talked about during their visit to Hungary. This time, their reporters were Rev. Aaron Stevens and the participants of the panel discussion of the Scottish Mission in Budapest on Tuesday 11th October.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán received leaders of Syrian Reformed Churches

2018. október 09., tags: prime minister, hungarian government, national evangleical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), syria, Middle East, middle east, union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne)

On Tuesday in the Parliament Building Prime Minister Viktor Orbán received the leaders of the Syrian Reformed Churches, Joseph Kassab, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Haroutune George Selimian, President of the Armenian Evangelical Community of Syria.

Sharing with Syrian Church Partners

2018. október 05., tags: Middle East, syria, armenian evangelical community in syria, national evangleical synod of syria and lebanon (nessl), partership, middle east

To continue and strengthen the partnership, the Reformed Church in Hungary has invited church leaders of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria and the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon to Budapest for a Partnership Visit.

Fellowship with Syrian Reformed Church Leaders

2018. október 03., tags: national evangelical synod of lebanon and syria (nessl), union of armenian evangelical churches in the near east (uaecne), syria, middle east, Middle East

Leaders of Syrian partner churches of RCH will visit Hungary next week. Rev. Harout Selimian, President of the Protestant Community in Syria and Rev. Joseph Kassab, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon will not only meet leaders of RCH and senior colleagues of its ministries, but also participate at public fora. RCH's Ecumenical Office and the St. Columba's Church of Scotland issued a joint invitation for the fellowship with our Syrian friends.

Scholarship for Syrian School Kids

2018. január 23., tags: syria, rch, partnership, middle east, Middle East

RCH continues in partnership with HEKS/EPER to support the work of Reformed churches in the Middle East.

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Reformed Church in Hungary

Address: H-1146 Budapest, Abonyi utca 21.   

PO Box: 1140 Budapest 70, Pf. 5

Phone/Fax: + 36 1 460 0708 

Email: oikumene@reformatus.hu





Our church through American eyes

We encourage you to read our  former GM intern Kearstin Bailey's blog about her time, spent in Hungary.