Reformed Church in Sub-Carpathia/ Reformed Church in Transcarpathia

The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia is a historic Reformed church in Ukraine. It is the oldest Protestant church in the country, founded in the 16th century, and a significant part of the Hungarian-speaking ethnicity belong to this denomination.[1]

History

The church was founded in 1921 when this region become part of Czechoslovakia. The church members were Hungarian ethnic people; in the time of formation their church counted approximately 65,000 members in 77 congregations. During World War II the Soviet troops deported 40,000 people from Sub-Carpathia. Trans-Carpathia became part of the Soviet Union. Pastors from different religions were persecuted and sometimes killed. Church schools, church buildings were taken away. It was restricted to evangelize to worship and the Sunday school too. Public church activities were not permitted, except for funerals. The Soviet Union propagated a totally atheist lifestyle. It was not permitted to read the Bible.[2] In the 1970s the situation changed a bit. The church was allowed to train pastors. After the collapse of the Soviet Union things changed.[2] From that time the church sponsors Reformed Primary, secondary schools. Churches were open again.[3]

Doctrine

Demographics

The church has 120,000-140,000 members in almost 100 parishes. A significant part of ethnic Hungarians in Trans-Carpathia belong to this church.[3] The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia has 3 Presbyteries, namely the Beregi, the Ugocsai and the Ungi Presbyteries.[4]

Interchurch relations

The Transcarpathian Reformed Church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches[5] and the Hungarian Reformed Federation.

References

  1. ↑ "Nyitóoldal". Reformatus.hu. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  2. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20090805152448/http://www.reformatus.com.ua/index.php?mutat=akerulettortenete. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 1 2 "Reformiert". reformiert online. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120528061828/http://www.reformatus.com.ua/index.php?lan=hu. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Member Churches :: World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)". Wcrc.ch. Retrieved 2015-05-30.


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