 Information:
|
First King of Hungary, b. at Gran, 975; d. 15
August, 1038.
He was a son of the Hungarian chief Géza and was
baptized, together with his father, by Archbishop St. Adalbert of Prague in
985, on which occasion he changed his heathen name Vaik (Vojk) into Stephen.
In 995 he married Gisela, a sister of Duke Henry of Bavaria, the future
Emperor St. Henry II, and in 997 succeeded to the throne of Hungary. In order
to make Hungary a Christian nation and to establish himself more firmly as
ruler, he sent Abbot Astricus to Rome to petition Pope Sylvester II for the
royal dignity and the power to establish episcopal sees. The pope acceded to
his wishes and, in addition, presented him with a royal crown with which he
was crowned at Gran on 17 August, 1001 (see HUNGARY.--History). He founded a
monastery in Jerusalem and hospices for pilgrims at Rome, Ravenna, and
Constantinople. He was a personal friend of St. Bruno of Querfurt and
corresponded with Abbot St. Odilo of Cluny.
The last years of his life were embittered by
sickness and family troubles. When on 2 September, 1031, his only son, St.
Emeric, lost his life on a bear hunt, his cherished hope of transferring the
reins of government into the hands of a pious Christian prince were
shattered. During his lifetime a quarrel arose among his various nephews
concerning the right of succession, and some of them even took part in a
conspiracy against his life. He was buried beside his son at
Stuhlweissenburg, and both were canonized together in 1083. His feast is on 2
September, but in Hungary his chief festival is observed on 20 August, the
day on which his relics were transferred to Buda. His incorrupt right hand is
treasured as the most sacred relic in Hungary.
|
Comments