GYŐR (GYŐR), DIOCESE OF. — In Hungary, a suffragan of Esztergom. It was founded by St Stephen (997–1038), the first King of the Hungarians, whom he converted to the Christian faith. At that time the diocese extended over the whole territory of the counties of Sopron and Moson, and over most of the counties of Győr, Komárom, Veszprém and Vas, in the north-western corner of present-day Hungary.
Tradition indicates the existence of the see as early as 1001. The first bishop was the Benedictine monk Radla, a friend and disciple of St Adalbert, Bishop of Prague. His successor was Modestus, whose name is commemorated in the records of the coronation of King Andrew I (1046–60). Bishop Hartvik, commissioned by King Coloman (1095–1114), wrote around 1111, on the basis of historical sources, the life of the holy king, the celebrated legend of St Stephen. Bishop Ugrin Csák (1188–1204) was a celebrated warrior, later also Archbishop of Esztergom. Bishop Gregory (1223–41), the 18th bishop of Győr, was repeatedly sent as legate of the king to Pope Gregory IX; he died on the field of Mohi (in north-eastern Hungary) in the tragic battle of the Hungarian army against the Mongols. Bishop Amadeus II (1254–63) consecrated the church of Jak, one of the most beautiful of the Romanesque-Gothic period in Hungary. The great counsellor of King Matthias Corvinus (1458–90), Cardinal Thomas Bakócz, before becoming Archbishop of Esztergom and chancellor of King Vladislaus II (1490–1516), was Bishop of Győr (1486–94). Bishop Blasius Paksi (1525–26) was killed in the fatal battle of Mohács (in southern Hungary), which opened the Turkish invasion and occupation of most of Hungary, lasting about 150 years. The bishops Zacharias Delphinus (1566–72) and Gregory Draskovich (1578–87) were raised to the purple. The latter later became Bishop of Zagreb and lieutenant of Croatia. George Széchényi (1658–85), later Archbishop of Esztergom, one of the most significant figures in the history of the Hungarian Church, founded the diocesan seminary, a Jesuit college and several other schools. Leopold Kollonich (1685–95) built various churches, schools, hospitals and old people’s homes, and as Bishop of Győr was raised to the dignity of cardinal. Augustine Keresztély (1695–1725), before beginning his ecclesiastical career, as an officer took part in the reconquest of Buda from the Turks. During the episcopate of Count Francis Zichy (1743–83) the territory of the diocese was considerably reduced; the parishes in the county of Veszprém were attached to the ancient Diocese of Veszprém, while those in the county of Vas, together with other territories, formed the new Diocese of Szombathely. Zichy also made great sacrifices for the restoration work on the cathedral, which was then adorned with frescoes and paintings by the Baroque painter Maulbertsch. The cathedral’s treasure was also enriched by him with precious gifts. Cardinal John Simor, Archbishop of Esztergom, for a time was also Bishop of Győr (1857–64). Bishop John Zalka (1867–1901) was an ecclesiastical writer and also carried out considerable activity in favour of the Church, society and the nation. The founder of the new diocesan seminary was Bishop Count Nicholas Széchényi (1901–11). His successor, Árpád Varady (1911–14), an excellent canonist, deserves consideration as president of the St Ladislaus Society for the spiritual care of Hungarian emigrants. During the First World War the bishop of the diocese was Anthony Fester. The Second World War gave the diocese a martyr bishop, Baron William Apor, who was killed by a Russian soldier because he energetically defended the life and honour of his faithful who had taken refuge in the episcopal palace during the advance of the Red Army in March 1945.
Today, in the 180 parishes of the diocese about 350 secular priests and about 60 religious priests carry out their ministry. The number of faithful reaches 400,000. In 1948 there were still 280 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in which about 40,000 children and young people received a religious and civic education. Unfortunately, in that year all Catholic schools were nationalised. The see of the diocese is Győr. Among its fine monuments the most important are the religious ones. Notable examples of Hungarian Gothic style include the chapels of Hedervári (1404) and Doczy (1498). A fine Baroque example is the church of the Benedictines, formerly of the Jesuits (1641).
Győr also houses the most important religious institutions of the diocese: the Chapter of Canons, which during the Turkish occupation was for a time transferred to Sopron; the diocesan seminary; various houses of religious (Benedictines, Carmelites) and religious women (Ursulines); the Benedictine grammar school for boys and the Ursuline school for girls, and a large diocesan teachers’ training college, all of which fell under the nationalisation law in June 1948. Győr is thus not only a centre of industry and commerce in north-western Hungary, a link between Budapest and Vienna, but also an important religious and cultural centre in Hungarian life. Gerardo Békés