Debrecen4U September 11, 2026

St Matrona Care Home in Debrecen Expanded with New Wing and Chapel

A new building wing, improved communal spaces and a renovated courtyard – residents of the St Matrona Greek Catholic Nursing and Care Home can now live in a more modern environment. As part of the development, a chapel was also established at the institution and consecrated by Metropolitan Archbishop Fülöp Kocsis.

The St Matrona Greek Catholic Nursing and Care Home has been expanded with a renovated building wing. Thanks to the development, ten residents have moved into separate single rooms, each with its own bathroom and kitchenette.

“For me, this means having a little home of my own. Now it really feels as though I were at home. I have a small bathroom, a little kitchenette and a television. Although I can’t see, I can still listen to it. I listen to the radio, and the community is very good too,” said resident Éva Szodoray.

The institution came under the care of the Greek Catholic Church in March 2022. Over the past year, it has undergone a comprehensive renovation: alongside the new building wing, the dining room and entrance hall have also been refurbished. The home currently provides care for fifty people with visual and mobility impairments, as well as fifty elderly people.

“The institution previously operated under state management, after which the Greek Catholic Church took over responsibility for caring for the people living here. As part of this service, a major development could now be implemented at the home. Not only has the infrastructure been improved, but the institution’s activities have also changed,” pointed out Sándor Ungvári, director of the St Luke Greek Catholic Charity Service.

The development focused not only on the residents’ comfort, but also on their spiritual wellbeing. A chapel and altar were established at the institution and consecrated by Metropolitan Archbishop Fülöp Kocsis. “We have placed the centre of prayer at the heart of the lives of everyone who enters this place, whether as a resident, an employee or a visitor. In doing so, we highlight the essence of our Church’s vocation and mission: to place the soul at the centre of our lives,” he emphasised.

According to Deputy Mayor Diána Széles, the care home is a good example of how the Church and the city can work together to support the people of Debrecen. “The Greek Catholic Church is also present in education and social care, and it is taking on its share of the burden in Debrecen. This creates a level of cooperation and unity that is a great help to the Municipality, and I believe to every citizen of Debrecen as well,” she added.

As part of the investment, the exterior façade and courtyard have also been renovated. The work does not end here, however: an energy-efficiency modernisation project has recently also begun at the institution.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu