Date of issue: 18 August 2006

Located on the right bank of the river at the Danube Bend on the castle hill in Esztergom, the Basilica is the largest church in the country. The town was not only witness to the birth of Hungary as a Christian state, but Hungary’s first king, Saint Stephen, made the Esztergom cathedral the country’s main church and raised its bishop to the rank of primary archbishop for all time. The then cathedral was almost completely destroyed as a result of wars and castle sieges. The construction of the present building was started by bishop Sándor Rudnay in 1822, he wanted for Esztergom to again become the country’s church centre. It was consecrated in 1856. It was for this occasion he Franz Liszt wrote his Esztergom Mass, which he himself conducted.

Decorating the cathedral is a work by Michelangelo Grigoletti, an altar picture on a single canvas. The left side-chapel was originally constructed as the sepulchral chapel of bishop Tamás Bakócz in 1507. Almost miraculously it survived the Turkish occupation and when the new building was constructed, master of construction János Pach made it a part the new cathedral. The vaults of the crypt contain the builders of the Basilica and its chief priests and the tombs of King Matthias’ chancellor, János Vitéz and bishop Dénes Széchy, who appointed Hunyadi as governor. In accordance with his last will and testament the remains of the world famous heroic Cardinal József Mindszenty were placed to rest here in the Basilica.

The secular status of the bishops was important for the development of Esztergom as well. These church leaders used a large part of their property for the development of the town, for healthcare, educational and social investments. The art treasure collection is a consequence of their patronisation of the arts, and a small remnant of this is held in the cathedral today, in the Treasury and the Christian Museum.

The stamp picture on the miniature sheet presents a view of the whole Basilica, the frame picture is a montage of decorative elements from the interior. The graphic on the first day cover shows a composition of beautiful features of the inside and outside of the building. The special cancellation stamp is a stylised drawing of the Basilica.

Source: www.bazilika-esztergom.hu

Order code:
2006220030011 (sheet)
2006220060012 (FDC)

Date of issue: 18 August 2006
Face value: HUF 500
Printing procedure: offset
Perforation size: 30 x 40 mm
Cut size: 94 x 69 mm
Number produced: 100,000
Printing press: Pénzjegynyomda
Designer: Barnabás Baticz