Debrecen4U August 20, 2025

Celebrating August 20 in Debrecen

The national holiday commemorating King Saint Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian state, began in Debrecen on Wednesday morning, August 20, 2025, with a flag-raising ceremony in Kossuth Square.

Following this, leaders of the historic churches—Archbishop-Metropolitan Fülöp Kocsis of the Greek Catholic Church, Bishop Károly Fekete of the Reformed Church, and Bishop Ferenc Palánki of the Roman Catholic Church—blessed and sanctified the new bread. Afterward, the traditional Flower Carnival procession commenced.

At noon, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the statue of Saint Stephen in Dósa nádor Square. Among the attendees were Annamária Rácz Pósánné, Deputy State Secretary for Higher Education and Adult Learning, and Máté Gábor Vincze, Deputy State Secretary for Public Collections and Cultural Development and Mayor of Debrecen László Papp. The mayor gave a ceremonial speech in which he said the following:

“It has now been five years since we began commemorating the birth of our state on August 20 by standing before the uplifting and timelessly crafted statue of Saint Stephen and the relic of Hungarian statehood, the Holy Crown. It is a moving feeling to know where we gather, where our place is when we remember our founding king here in Debrecen. Thank you to everyone who joins us in celebration. August 20 reminds us of one of the most outstanding figures in Hungarian history and his most enduring legacy—King Saint Stephen. He recognized that every era holds new opportunities, but true progress and survival are granted only to those who can identify future challenges and boldly seize the moment. King Stephen saw that on the threshold of a new millennium, Christianity offered the path to survival and advancement for the Hungarian people. He also understood that for the sake of the future, Hungary had to break with its old way of life and join the community of Christian Europe. This decision was not easy, but it proved that the fate of great nations is shaped by insight and courageous action. Since every nation lives by its own laws, we, too, who govern our realm by the will of God, following both ancient and modern rulers, have reflected on the law and determined how our people may live a decent and peaceful life. As they have been enriched by divine laws, so must they be subject to worldly laws as well.

These words come from the preamble of the law code written by our first king, Saint Stephen, who was crowned 1025 years ago. His 50-article code laid the foundation for the new state’s order. The text is strict and projects a new world governed by divine and secular laws, charting a path for the Hungarian people. The law code and its rigorous enforcement significantly strengthened one of the key pillars of Stephen’s nation-building work: stability. Without firm faith, stable governance, and a well-considered administrative and military system—all prerequisites for stability—we could not speak of a successful Hungarian statehood that has lasted over a millennium. This is the foundation of Saint Stephen’s enduring legacy.

Throughout the centuries, history has repeatedly placed us at crossroads. When the survival of our nation was at stake, we were always able to unite and, if necessary, fight, resist, and struggle against our enemies for decades. However, once the danger had passed, we often failed to choose the right path and missed opportunities that lay before us. This led, 105 years ago, to the fragmentation of Saint Stephen’s Hungary. After Trianon, a mutilated, condemned country struggled to find a foothold for survival. We endured, pulled ourselves together, and reorganized our lives within the confines of a reduced Hungary—only to make poor decisions again and again. First aligning with the destructive ideologies of fascism, then communism, we lost the great chance to write Hungary’s story on the winning side of the 20th century.

However, the story of the Hungarian people—thankfully—did not end with the failures of the 20th century. Every century presents new opportunities and challenges. The 21st century, in which we now live, may hold greater promise than any before.

Over the past 15 years—despite many debates—numerous strategic decisions, developments, and investments have been made, especially here in Debrecen, whose significance will impact the entire century. Perhaps never before has Hungary possessed such strength and opportunity in knowledge, technology, and the economy, nor such sovereignty to shape its own destiny. Not since the time of King Matthias have we begun a century with such control over our independence and self-determination. This century offers Hungarians a renewed chance—so that when our descendants look back 100 years from now, they may remember the 21st century not as one of losses, but as an era of national rise.

However, to achieve this, we must recognize that the moment is now. We must seize the opportunities before us, because if we miss them, we risk losing another hundred years. We must not abandon our commitment to self-determination, nor our fight against illegal migration, and we must not rejoin an empire where Hungarian interests are relegated to secondary importance.

We have lived under many empires. We can say with certainty: none of them worked for us. So why keep trying? Every decision Saint Stephen made served the interests of Hungary and its people. Today, we need decision-makers and representatives who truly put Hungary first—who fight without compromise for our nation and our communities, both at home and abroad.

The Hungarian nation has always been strong when united, when it believed in itself and trusted in the future. It has always been vulnerable when divided, when it feared taking opportunities, and when foreign interests prevailed over Hungarian ones. In the 21st century, it is up to us to choose the right path. In shaping the future and finding the right direction, Debrecen has a special role to play.

This city has always set an example—in faith, in the fight for freedom and national independence, and in the country’s development. Here, the Hungarian nation’s confidence has been reborn time and again. Here, the belief has grown stronger that Hungary belongs among the free and independent nations of Europe. Here, we have demonstrated that even in challenging times, a city can serve as a guardian and promoter of national causes—a sentinel of Hungarian freedom. From Bocskai’s War of Independence to 1956, Debrecen has played a pivotal role in every century of Hungary’s struggles for freedom. We can also be proud that the idea of the Pan-European Picnic—which contributed to the fall of socialism, the collapse of the Iron Curtain, and the reunification of Germany—was born here in this city.

We must be proud of our city and of the patriotism of Debrecen’s citizens, which obliges us to continue setting an example in the 21st century.

Let us demonstrate how a modern, forward-looking city can be built on respect for its past. Debrecen must lead in knowledge, culture, economic development, and unity. It is our task to make this city one of Hungary’s engines of growth, thereby strengthening the entire nation.

King Saint Stephen believed that the state he founded would endure and withstand the storms of history. His legacy was faith—ours, a thousand years later, is certainty. We now know, with certainty, that Hungary rests on solid foundations. This nation is one of Europe’s most crisis-resilient. Perhaps we all long for the coming decades to be defined not by crises and resilience, but by construction and progress. That is why the decisions we make today carry enormous weight. If we honor Saint Stephen’s political and spiritual legacy, it becomes clear that our decisions must serve not the present, but future generations.

The Hungarian nation will endure for the next thousand years and grow and strengthen only if it preserves its solid, Saint Stephen-inspired foundations, remains true to its values, and stays open to the world and progressive ideas. The knowledge that the Hungarian nation has received as a divine gift must be put to use for development—here, in this country, in this city.

Debrecen has everything it needs to fulfill its role as one of Hungary’s most important cities—its second capital—and to play a leading role in our nation’s 21st-century development. In recent years, some of the world’s most innovative companies have established a presence in Debrecen. This gives us the chance and the opportunity to retain talent, knowledge, and the jobs created here.

Continuous development is underway in vocational and university education, resulting in a growing number of students in Debrecen each year. In the coming years, we will have the opportunity to align our cultural institutions with national strategic goals, which will bring a new scale to the city’s theatrical and cultural life. To ensure sustainable development, we are prioritizing the condition of our environment and natural assets. Through the development of green and water infrastructure, supported by the adopted Green Codex, we are contributing to the preservation of these resources.

Let us take pride in what Debrecen has accomplished in recent decades. Let us preserve the strength and unity that have made this city one of the most promising in Hungary and Europe. The diligence, endurance, talent, and commitment of Debrecen’s citizens are unbreakable—and they are the guarantee of the city’s success.

Progress and change are always accompanied by debate—this was true even in Saint Stephen’s time. But I believe we will not stray from the right path. I believe we will not repeat the mistakes of the 20th century. We deserve success. We deserve a better life. Now is the time to write our history on the side of the victors.

God bless Hungary! God bless Debrecen!”
— Mayor László Papp concluded.

The August 20 celebrations in Debrecen concluded with a ceremonial lowering of the flag, a nighttime carnival procession, and a pop music concert.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu