Debrecen4U August 18, 2026

Joint Exhibition on Magic of Collaboration Opens in Debrecen’s Memorial Garden

The Municipality of Debrecen, the Debrecen Great Reformed Church Congregation and the Debrecen Charity Board opened an exhibition entitled The Memorial Garden Tells a Story – A Magical Coming Together on 17 August 2026 in the Memorial Garden behind the Great Reformed Church.

Edit Bódor, President of the Debrecen Charity Board, stressed in her introduction that several exhibitions were opening that day under the umbrella title The Memorial Garden Tells a Story – A Magical Coming Together. These were preceded by the opening of the exhibition The Memorial Garden Tells a Story About Acceptance – Meet Elmer the Patchwork Elephant on 14 August, organised by the Hajdú-Bihar County Association of Parents of Children with Multiple Disabilities. The material from that exhibition can be seen along the section of the Memorial Garden’s fence on the side facing the Bishop’s Office. It has now become a tradition for the member organisations of the Debrecen Charity Board to surprise the people of Debrecen with something in the Memorial Garden – during Advent, for example, by creating the Soul Garden. Now, as part of the Flower Carnival celebrations, the exhibition The Memorial Garden Tells a Story – A Magical Coming Together, which opened on 17 August, presents not only the Charity Board and its direct partner organisations, but also works created by a group of friends from Gávavencsellő, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County – led by Katalin Tóth Kőpájerné, head of the Gávavencsellő Cultural Centre and Library – as well as works by the Immanuel Home, Primary School, School for Developmental Education and Training, and Skills Development School of the Debrecen-Nagytemplom Reformed Congregation (Immanuel Home and School). In addition, Karakter 1517 Bookshop and Café is hosting a display from the private doll collection of Ágnes Türk Kenderné, also from Gávavencsellő.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles highlighted in her welcome address that the main message of the Debrecen Flower Carnival is to convey a sense of belonging and love. Every year, the carnival welcomes guests from among the city’s twinned towns and cities. As participants in the exhibitions in the Memorial Garden, Gávavencsellő has now effectively joined this circle of guests. As the Deputy Mayor explained, it was Edit Bódor who was struck by the similarity between the summer “fairy garden” created by the people of Gávavencsellő and Debrecen’s own, and this inspired their invitation to take part. According to Diána Széles, Debrecen can be characterised in many ways – as an economic, industrial, commercial, transport and cultural centre – but perhaps more importantly, the city’s community has foundations and a heritage through which it conveys spiritual values to the Hungarian nation as a whole. Debrecen can remain a spiritual centre only if the people who live here are willing to work for their community and to carry forward and uphold the values they have inherited from their predecessors. Through the Flower Carnival, Debrecen also sends everyone a message on the importance of paying attention to what our predecessors and our parents did, continuing to uphold their values, and passing them on to our children. This is how Hungary can become a country in which we are happy to live and where we speak the language of love. A country where other people matter, where we accept others, pay attention to them, think of them and care for them. If we pass this idea on, our children and grandchildren will say that Hungary is not merely their country, but their homeland, Diána Széles said.

János Berecz, Mayor of Gávavencsellő, said in his welcome address that their exhibition in Debrecen showcases the diligence of a community with Swabian roots – Gávavencsellő was once a significant Swabian settlement – whose members are capable of making their way in the world wherever they may find themselves. Gávavencsellő once had a population of 10,000; today, 3,300 people live there. Yet this decline in population may perhaps be bringing the settlement’s religious, ethnic and institutional communities closer together than ever. The creativity that has emerged from this spirit of cooperation is reflected in the exhibition material they have brought to Debrecen, which was created as the installation for the Gávavencsellő Castle Garden Theatre Evenings, now entering its sixth season this year. The mayor thanked the organisers for the opportunity to present their creations in Debrecen in the spirit of the love that connects people.

István Oláh, Presiding Pastor of the Debrecen Great Reformed Church Congregation, drew attention to the exhibition by the Immanuel Home and School, which is now its third exhibition held at this location. They are especially keen to showcase the talent, values and work of the young people who belong to the Immanuel Home and School. For more than thirty years, this institution has been committed to the mission of providing development and education for young people with multiple disabilities. The young people’s current creations depict faces which, just as in the institution itself every day, reflect positive energy, positive feelings and moods, and joy. Joy, gratitude, hope and faith are all present at the Immanuel Home and School. So is the belief that these young people have a rightful place in the world, and that everyone should be shown their values and the sincerity, joy and love they are capable of giving. István Oláh expressed his hope that those who view these works will have a better day as a result, and perhaps even be inspired to become involved in these young people’s lives, to share in their community and to support and serve them.

Zsófia Juhász, Director General of the Immanuel Home, Primary School, School for Developmental Education and Training, and Skills Development School of the Debrecen Great Reformed Church Congregation, likewise emphasised that the young people who took part in creating the exhibition are people who create value. The smiling, carnival-going faces depicted in the works carry several layers of meaning, and one of their important messages is that every element was made from natural or recycled materials – because we must not only look after one another, but also the created world that has been entrusted to us. The installations also include photographs from life at the Immanuel Home and School, as well as spiritual messages considered important by the institution. Nearly 700 flowers were made from recycled materials for the installations, along with 300 petals, while approximately 1,200 metres of yarn were used. Twenty members of staff and 40 young people at the institution worked on creating the faces over a period of five months.

In the spirit of the approaching national celebration, the new loaf of bread was blessed by Father Richárd Ferenczi, the current parish priest of Nyíradony and former parish priest of Gávavencsellő, and Father Csaba Nagy, the current parish priest of Gávavencsellő. This was followed by a flute performance by Martin Gergő Túróczi of Gávavencsellő to the delight of those gathered.

The exhibition series The Memorial Garden Tells a Story can be viewed in the Memorial Garden behind the Great Reformed Church until 24 August 2026, Monday – including in the evening thanks to its illuminated installation.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu