Görög Örökség Ελληνική Κληρονομιά - H-ellin.com

DR. LASZLO SASVARI - DR. GYÖRGY DIÓSZEGI
The main characteristics in the history of the greek communities 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 accomplished 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 community 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 become citizens of Gyor. The biggest part of the orthodox
65