VACIA (Vácz), DIOCESE of. — City and diocese in Hungary, founded, according to tradition and the concordant opinion of most historians, by St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary.
Area: 13,160 sq. km.; 1,671,987 inhabitants, of whom 1,187,345 are Catholics; churches: 275; parishes: 246; diocesan priests: 452; seminarians: 63; religious priests: 128. Within the territory of the diocese there were 24 houses of male religious Orders, with 220 members, and 70 houses of female religious Orders, with 777 members. In the diocese, all the secondary schools, 15 teacher-training schools, a commercial school, a Fatebenefratelli hospital, various orphanages, educational colleges for boys and girls, and a large printing press are administered by ecclesiastical authority (statistics for 1948, in Ann. Pont. 1953, p. 440).
Although the city of Vácz is of such ancient foundation, it now presents the appearance of a Baroque city, because it was repeatedly sacked. It began to rise again in the 18th century. In 1760 construction was begun on the imposing cathedral in a classicizing style, with a dome 58 m. high, frescoed by Maulpertsch. The parish church of the upper city, built in 1769, is a fine example of the Baroque. Other notable buildings are the Franciscan church, the Provost’s Palace, and the Municipal Palace.
The diocese occupies the entire plain lying between the Danube and the Tisza and is the largest in Hungary. Exposed to all the invasions that struck Hungary from the East, it had an extremely troubled history. Devastated by the Tatars in the 12th century, by the Hussite Czechs in the middle of the 15th century, and by the great revolution of Dózsa 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 extensive spiritual damage. Before the catastrophe of Mohács (29 Aug. 1526), the diocese had 262 localities with a church and a priest. In 1654, by contrast, there were only five parishes throughout its 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 renewal was fraught with difficulties. During their domination, the Turks had favored the Protestants, bringing them in large numbers to the localities where the Catholic population had perished during the numerous wars, and granting their pastors freedom of worship and movement. In 1700 the number of parishes had risen to 53, and 17 “flying chaplains” endeavored 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; and 1,059,238 in 1930. The bishops who distinguished themselves most during 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, 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. government, which lasted 25 years, was a source of abundant blessings for the diocese. He spent the winter in Vienna and the summer in Vácz. He devoted his entire fortune to the construction of churches, schools, and charitable institutions. Most of the public buildings in the city of Vácz are likewise due to him. Toward the end of the last century, Constantine Schuster deserves mention for having established a great number of schools and institutions for the education of boys and girls.
Pius IX granted the bishop of V. pallium; since 1948 the bishop has been Msgr. József Petery.