Local services
On the second Sunday of Advent, on the 8th of December, 2024, the candle flame was lit in the Great Reformed Church of Debrecen. The Municipality of Debrecen was represented at the ceremony by Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa.
The second candle of Advent symbolises hope. Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa explained, ”The Advent period has always been one of the most beloved holidays in Debrecen. There is an excitement in anticipation of the holidays, offering the opportunity for believers and non-believers to meet and start over.”
Lajos Barcsa underlined that the flame of hope reminds us that Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, brought peace and hope to the world. The light of the second candle calls us to pay attention not only to the darkness of the external world but also to the inner spiritual light.
“During this period, we can experience the values that form the basis of the Debrecen community profoundly,” the Deputy Mayor emphasised.
“We, the people of Debrecen, are proud of our community. Here, not only the individual but also shared experiences and traditions enrich our lives. Advent, the joint candle lighting, and evening walks among the Christmas lights all contribute to making us more connected and strengthening the spirit of Debrecen, which has been built on the foundations of love and togetherness for centuries,” Lajos Barcsa highlighted.
“Let us notice each other in the merry bustle of the Christmas market. Let us allow the true value of the holiday, the feeling of love and belonging, to permeate our lives so that each day brings us closer to truly living in a more loving, cooperative community,” he concluded.
Before lighting the second Advent candle, Dorottya Tünde Tóth, pastor of the Reformed parish of Debrecen-Great Church, greeted the celebrating community, and Richárd Asztalos, director pastor of the Debrecen Evangelical Church Parish, shared his festive thoughts. The festive program featured performances by the “Corner Artists’ House” (In Hungarian: Kuckó Művésztanya), the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, the Hortobágy Folk Dance Ensemble, the Sonivius Vappae band, the Animus Bell Ensemble, and Jennifer Szirota.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
