αριθμός των Ελλήνων να μειωθεί σημαντικά. Ο κοινοτικός τρόπος ύπαρξης των Ελλήνων που διατηρούσαν τη γλώσσα και τις παραδόσεις τους στις αρχές του 20 ου αιώνα είχε καταργηθεί σχεδόν εξολοκλήρου. Ζουν όμως ανάμεσα μας εκείνοι οι άνθρωποι που δίπλα στην ουγγρική τους συνείδηση διατηρούν στη μνήμη τους την ανάμνηση των Ελλήνων προγόνων τους, κατοίκων της Ουγγαρίας που είχαν δημιουργήσει αξίες και οι οποίοι κατά τη διάρκεια του 15 ου -19 ου αιώνα (σε τρία κύματα) αναγκασμένοι να εγκαταλείψουν την ελληνική τους πατρίδα που είχε κατακτηθεί από τους Τούρκους βρήκαν καινούργια πατρίδα στην Ουγγαρία που ήταν έτοιμη να τους δεχτεί στην κοινωνία της. 64
DR. LASZLO SASVARI - DR. GYÖRGY DIÓSZEGI The main characteristics in the history of the greek <strong>com</strong>munities in Hungary of the 17-19* centuries in the mirror of the orthodox religion of Miskolc, Szentendre, Tokaj and Vác. After the occupation of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453 a great big number of Greeks appeared in Hungary where they arrived massively. The Greeks who found security and job opportunities in Hungary discovered more and more the business potential through the feudal conditions of the era. They started step by step and with persistent work they ac<strong>com</strong>plished great success within few decades. The, gradually bigger penetration of the Greeks in trading is obvious through the fact that in Transylvania, in the 1Τ century, they transported products even in the ruler's premises. Until the middle of the 18' century, they obtained a great role in the international transit trade, too. Until then, in our cities and towns almost everywhere the Greek traders were present. As we proceed with the presentation of the greek element in Gyor, Miskolc, Szentendre, Tokaj and Vac, we wish to denote the world of the Greeks, who etched with their mark the values of Hungary in those times. GYOR The orthodox church <strong>com</strong>munity of Gyor had already existed before the 1Τ century. The earliest document who applies to the Greeks of Gyor is the reference to a Simon Gorog in 1587 who probably took his surname due to his Greek origin. The existing orthodox temple was built in 1727 by Greeks and Serbs together( on the grounds of the Serbs' privileges), but in the decoration that took place at the beginning of the 19 l century, the Greeks had the leading role. The proof lies also in the greek inscription in the shrine. Description of the temple: Street Balint Mihály 54. Greek-orthodox Serbian church with a belltower in front of the arched font. The sanctuary which stands on pillars is closing with the three sides of an octagon. Framed shrine in the order of Josef B'. Benches in order of Josef B'. Abaroque style pylon with leaves created at the same era, is standing freely in front. There have been saved two in-built gravestones with fragmentary greek inscriptions. In the one, the name of Paleog Panakosta who died on 20th February 1784 at the age of 37 can be read. (Greeks with the surname of Panakostas were living in Eger, too). In the other one, we read the name of Petrosz Koszaniotisz. (the date cannot be read, it is visible however that he died on Τ of December). The authorities of the town asked the Greeks to announce the dates of their namedays( it was important for the opening hours of the shops). In their answer written in hungarian, they stressed out the most and least important of their celebrations. The following " Greek shop-owners of Gyor" signed or initialed( by giving their approval) the introductory document which also described in full detail their behavior in the celebrations. " I, Mihály Polizo, consent to all these And I Gergely Pita consent And I Domotor szekeres consent And I Domotor Decskoly consent György Vasvary I consent Mihály Varsanyi I consent Antal Száraz I consent Argentinus Rozas I consent Peter Borsody I consent. Between 1754-1771 in the county of Gyor seven Greeks were registered, four in the city of Gyor and three in three other settlements. During the census carried out by the priest in Gyor there were fifteen and in the other areas ten homes whose residents were orthodox people so the congregation was not considerable. However, it is not easy to detect how many of them were Serbians. The census of 1754-1771 involved the Turkish citizens but it is quite likely that there were Greeks who had be<strong>com</strong>e citizens of Gyor. The biggest part of the orthodox 65
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