A History of Central Eastern Europe

conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1666. The churches façade was remodeled in the Baroque
style, much of the furniture is early-18th century, the high altar was made by the sculptor
STRÉCIUS JÓZSEF from Levoča and features the Archangel Michael at the top and SZENT LÁSZLÓ
and SZENT ISTVÁN on each side (ISTVÁN/STEPHEN I, c970 – 1038, 1st ÁRPÁD King of Hungary;
LÁSZLÓ/LADISLAUS I, c1040 – 1095, 6th ÁRPÁD king of Hungary), and the inlaid frescoes on the
ceiling of the old dining room of the monastery date to 1807.
The name is now NAGYBOLDOGASSZONY (Church of Our Lady, a.k.a. the Virgin Mary parish
church; BOLDOGASSZONY is in uniquely Hungarian name for Mary and one believed to originate
in the pre-Christian nature religions of the area) and the monastery is the KOSSUTH LAJOS
KÖZÉPISKOLAI PIARISTA KOLLÉGIUM (Lajos Kossuth Secondary College). The church is
dedicated to Our Lady and recognizes the day when ISTVÁN, the first Hungarian king, offered the
kingdom, represented in the Holy Crown, to the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. The beautifully carved
stone clock formerly on the tower is today kept in the ambulatory of the monastery. The first
mechanical clock face to be made in Hungary, it dates from 1501. The furnishings were created
between 1716 and 1736 in a Baroque style.
Leaving their country behind, those who immigrated brought their belongings, their children and
their faith; Trenton has had several Hungarian-based churches:
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