VÁC (Vácz), Diocese of. - City and diocese in Hungary, founded, according to tradition and the concordant opinion of most historians, by St. Stephen, first king of Hungary.
Area 13,160 sq. km.; 1,671,987 inhabitants, of whom Catholics number 1,187,345; churches: 275; parishes: 246; diocesan priests: 452; seminarians: 63; religious priests: 128. In the territory of the diocese there were 24 houses of male religious Orders with 220 members and 70 of female religious Orders with 777 members. In the diocese all the gymnasium schools, 15 teachers' colleges, a commercial school, a hospital of the Fatebenefratelli, various orphanages, colleges for the education of boys and girls, and a large printing press are directed by the ecclesiastical authority (1948 statistics, in Ann. Pont. 1953, p. 440).
The city of Vácz, although of such ancient foundation, today presents the appearance of a Baroque city, because it was sacked several times. It began to revive in the 18th century. In 1760 the construction was begun of the imposing cathedral in a classicizing style with a dome 58 m. high, frescoed by Maulpertsch. Of a fine Baroque style is the parish church of the upper city, built in 1769. Also noteworthy are: the Franciscan church, the Provost's Palace, and the Town Hall.
The diocese occupies the entire plain lying between the Danube and the Tisza and is the most extensive in Hungary. Exposed to all the invasions that struck Hungary from the East, it had a most troubled history. Devastated by the Tartars in the 12th century, by the Hussite Czechs in the middle of the 15th century, and by the great Dózsa revolution in 1514, it fell under the Turks in 1544. The one hundred and fifty years of Turkish domination not only destroyed its cities and villages, but also caused enormous spiritual damage. Before the catastrophe of Mohács (29 Aug. 1526) the diocese had 262 villages with a church and a priest. In 1654, by contrast, there were only five parishes in its entire territory. In 1664 the city of Vácz was liberated by Charles of Lorraine, but as soon as the imperial troops withdrew, the Turks reconquered the city, albeit for a short time. In 1675, under Bishop Pongrác, there were 14 parishes and the number of the faithful did not exceed 13,000. The work of spiritual rebirth was full of difficulties. During their domination the Turks had favored the Protestants, causing them to flock in mass to the villages where the Catholic population had perished during the numerous wars, granting their pastors freedom of worship and movement. In 1700 the number of parishes had risen to 53, and 17 "flying chaplains" strove to reach the faithful scattered throughout the immense diocese. The number of the faithful was 124,332 in 1769; 317,800 in 1850; 656,360 in 1900; 1,059,238 in 1930. The bishops who distinguished themselves most in these troubled years were Dvornikovics, who governed the diocese at the beginning of the 18th century; the two Althanns, Michael, who later became a cardinal, and Michael Charles, who was an excellent organizer and a man of great learning and piety. Finally Kristóf Migazzi (1714-1803), who became bishop of Vácz in 1756. A year later he was transferred to the archiepiscopal see of Vienna, but in 1761 he was appointed administrator of the diocese of V. His governance, which lasted 25 years, was full of blessings for the diocese. He spent the winter in Vienna and the summer in Vácz. He used his entire fortune in building churches, schools and charitable institutions. Most of the public buildings of the city of Vácz are also owed to him. Toward the end of the last century, Constantine Schuster deserves mention, for he erected a great number of schools and institutions for the education of boys and girls.
Pius IX granted the bishop of V. the use of the pallium; since 1948 the bishop has been Msgr. József Petery.
Bibliography6 works
Giulio Toth