Debrecen4U September 25, 2025

Karakter 1517 Bookstore and Café is ten years old

Karakter 1517 Bookstore and Café is celebrating its tenth anniversary. On this occasion, and to announce the programs related to the anniversary, the Debrecen-Nagytemplomi Református Egyházközség (Debrecen-Great Church Reformed Church Parish) and the Municipality of Debrecen organized a press event in the café located in the Memorial Garden behind the Great Church on September 24, 2025.

The event began in a special historical, sacred space, as the opening thoughts were delivered by István Oláh, the president-pastor of the Debrecen-Nagytemplom Reformed Church Parish, in a small prayer room accessible from the café, which—at that time still part of a much larger prayer room—was the site of the establishment of the independent Hungarian Reformed Church in 1567. The president-pastor, starting from a quote from Apostle Paul, spoke about how our world today is performance-oriented, which is why many people are anxious. “However, God does not want performance from us; he is not performance-oriented but growth-oriented. He recommends growth in faith and love. Accordingly, our life is a garden where we sow, plant, care for, water, and see the growth, and then the time will come when we see the result of the growth, the fruits.” The ten-year history of 1517 Bookstore and Café is also such a growth process. At the same time, István Oláh recalled that the history of the bookstore and the document mission in the life of the Great Church Parish did not begin with this bookstore but much earlier—more than 40 years ago, before the change of regime—with a small Reformed bookstore on Piac Street in 1984. At that time, Debrecen was the only city in our country, apart from Budapest, where a Christian bookstore and document mission existed. The 1517 Bookstore and Café is a later development, but it is also the result of growth, and this growth continues today: more and more people come here, sit down for a coffee or tea, chat, buy books, come to book launches and lectures—and even knit. According to the pastor, only one work remains: the work we do together with God. Signs of this can be seen in Debrecen as well. “Growth does not stop; it will continue, but only if we undertake the service entrusted to us. Because planting is important, watering is important, but let us never forget to give thanks to God, who gives growth,” István Oláh explained.

The participants of the press event, then in the café, were greeted by Deputy Mayor Diána Széles. As she put it, for her—who regularly visits there as a private person—and for many, this place is a place of peace. And this is exactly the essence of it: here you can break away from the rushing world for a while, be together, and create value, which is very important. This place has a charm. Those who come here may not go to the Great Church for a service, but here they can still feel what it is like to believe, what it is like to be a Reformed person, and what Debrecenism is like. As Diána Széles said, “It is a great thing that the parish has taken on the operation of Karakter 1517, since this bookstore and café is actually a city tourist destination, too.” According to the Deputy Mayor, Debrecen tourism is currently reaching new heights this year in terms of the number of guest nights, so it is understandable if someone is investing in the city’s tourism today. However, this was not the case ten years ago; ideas and innovations appeared at Karakter 1517—such as the Szabó Magda cake—and they believed that this business could stand on its own two feet and develop.

István Oláh, the president-pastor of the Debrecen-Nagytemplom Reformed Church Parish, recalled the moment from the history of Karakter 1517 when the then mayor Lajos Kósa called him on the phone in 2013 and asked if the parish could utilize the building of the current café, already existing at the time, as a community space, which was officially functioning as a repository for the excavated stones of the former András Church.

The idea of ​​establishing a bookstore and café was the result of joint thinking and discussions—a venture that had never existed in the life of the parish before. The past ten years have answered the doubts of the time—it was worth embarking on this venture, which is working and developing; people come in, like this place, and are happy to attend the events held here, such as café and poetry evenings, book launches, and writer-reader meetings. As István Oláh put it, “The name of the place was Karakter because they want anyone who crosses its threshold, no matter what their character, to feel good. Because I believe that we are true Christians and genuine Reformed believers when love becomes visible through us—when the joy we represent through Christ shines outward, and others can see it and feel good in our presence, also adding, “It is a very important part of our life that people who may not come to church or have not yet entered can meet here, but they will come here more courageously, they will get to know us here, we will talk about Christianity and faith, and maybe if that day comes in their lives, they will not only cross the threshold of the Karakter but also the threshold of the Great Church. We continue to operate with this hope.”

Andrea Farkas, the manager of Karakter 1517 Bookstore and Café, spoke about how she took over the management of the bookstore three years ago and has been grateful ever since for the special place she has been entrusted with. She is grateful to all those who are partners in this service.Together with their colleagues, they would like to thank the publishers with whom they work closely, as well as the local artisans whose products they are happy to sell. It is important to them to support Debrecen merchants and provide a place for local values. They are proud of the wine of Nagytemplom, which they can thank the Mészáros Winery in Szekszárd for. Karakter 1517, however, is more than just a bookstore and café. This is a community space where they host cultural events and book launches and where religious and secular people find a home. They work closely with the University of Debrecen, within the framework of which they host the Science Café event series. Andrea Farkas highlighted that the play of light on the glass roof at the foot of the Great Church fills people with a special sense of peace. It is important for them to provide space for slowing down and quieting down in the fast-paced world. They work with their colleagues every day to ensure that anyone who comes to them leaves feeling refreshed. The café also offers specials such as the Magda Szabó cake—which is available exclusively at the café—and the reimagined “Calvinist Heaven” cake. On the occasion of the bookstore’s 10th birthday, they are also offering a special surprise: the Character Menu, which costs HUF 1,517 and consists of an espresso coffee and a “Calvinist Heaven” cake. Flóra Vincze, the master pastry chef who reimagined the “Calvinist Heaven” cake, said that the cake is a very old Hungarian cake—originating from Gömör. She reimagined this cake so that it could be slightly modernized in form and fit into the café’s menu; it is made with homemade dough, which is layered with sweet cottage cheese and sour cream, and also contains raisins. It is very filling.

Edit Bódor, the advisor of the Great Church Cultural Service, gave a detailed description of the cultural programs to be held in the Great Church and the Karakter 1517 Bookstore and Café for the remaining part of the year. Among these, she highlighted the program to be held in the Great Church on September 25 at 4:30 p.m. on the occasion of World Tourism Day. Today the clocks of the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen are controlled by a digital clock mechanism with GPS. The old tower clock mechanism has been on display as an exhibit on the church’s tourist route, in the attic space, since 2014. In 2025, on World Tourism Day, with the help of cooperation in Debrecen and active civilian participation, the nearly 100-year-old precision mechanical structure will be put back into operation. The complete renovation of the clock mechanism is a long process, which is starting now. The restoration can bring new attractions to life for the church and the city. Edit Bódor drew particular attention to Mező Misi—singer of the band Magna Cum Laude—and his evening entitled “Mesélő” (Storyteller), which will begin at 6:00 p.m. on September 29 in the Great Church. Those interested can expect a cozy, intimate, slightly quieter evening; a little break; and a chance to switch off and escape from everyday life. Misi Mező will sing with just an acoustic guitar, without his fellow musicians, but with the inspiration that comes from within.

The anniversary of the bookstore and café was also welcomed by Brigitta Bodnár, representative of Napraforgó Publishing House, who said that this year is also a celebration for their publisher, as it is 20 years old this year.

The event organized on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Karakter 1517 Bookstore and Café was attended by Gergely Máté Kiss, Mari Jászai Award-winning actor and member of the Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen, who read poems from the contemporary Christian verse anthology titled “Reménytövis” (Thorn of Hope), published this year by Kálvin Publishing House.

During the event, potter Sándor Gál created on the café’s terrace with students from one of the classes of the Debrecen Reformed College Primary School, and in the meantime, artist and art teacher Gábor Kustár also created a surprise mural that matched the spirit of the place.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu