The Two Most Common Sacred Images in Hungarian Homes

5/24/2022

In previous generations nearly every Hungarian home featured some sort szentkép, which can be roughly translated as "sacred image".

These sacred images were usually mid-to-low-quality prints featuring Jesus, the Virgin Mary -- either separately or together -- or an iconic New Testament scene.

You can still encounter these images today, mostly in the homes of elderly people. In my experience, the two images below remain the most "popular".

The Sacred Heart of Jesus - date and artist unknown. A framed copy of this print "came with" the house I purchased in Hungary six years ago.

Jesus on the Mount of Olives - date and artist unknown

Though the tradition continues here and there, it is not nearly as prevalent as it had been in previous generations. When you are invited into anyone's home these days, you are more likely to encounter a kaleidoscopic IKEA print or a framed poster of a professional athlete or rock band.

8 Comments

John Venlet link

5/25/2022 16:54:33

It's interesting to consider the previous prevalence of images of Jesus Christ in homes in the past versus the present. As I sat and thought on this, I wondered if the decline is somewhat associated with the onset of the printing press and The Scriptures becoming available to all people rather than just the clergy, whom, in my understanding of church history, did not think The Scriptures should be freely available to all people. Though I am not opposed, per se, to having a painting of Jesus Christ in one's home to which one's eyes may be drawn and thus their mind drawn to thoughts of The Messiah, having The Scriptures available to you to read and contemplate on seems to me to be a more enlightening means of keeping God and His Son in your heart and mind, nurtured by the Holy Spirit through prayer.

Francis Berger

5/25/2022 20:13:27

@ John - I believe the prevalence of these sorts of images in Hungary has much to do with the predominately Catholic culture. Perhaps it is similar to the prevalence of icons in Russia and other parts of the Orthodox world.

The quality of the prints and reproductions made them accessible to even the poorest strata in Hungary. Also, it may have something to do with general literacy. The peasant and working classes had low literacy rates in Hungary until the late.nineteenth century.

Another interesting thing in Hungary and Central Europe is the prevalence of statues and crucifixes in fields, forests, and along roads, most of which were erected in the 18th and 19th centuries.

bruce charlton

5/25/2022 18:40:59

This is interesting. The sacred heart image is one I don't understand - I have never been able to grasp what specifically it communicates to faithful Roman Catholics (and why this particular symbol was created and became popular, so late in the history of the RCC).

(I've read a couple of accounts of the phenomenon online, but none seemed memorable or convincing.)

The Mount of Olives image is unfamiliar to me, but I see (from an image search) that there are several/ many very similar versions of this scene, by multiple artists - so it too must presumably be intended to communicate a rather specific idea. What episode of the Gospels is it depicting?

I like your version - thoughtful and mysterious!

5/25/2022 20:35:04

@ Bruce - The Sacred Heart image never really resonated with me as Catholic. I was taught that it represented Christ's immense love and His sacrifice that cleansed us of our sin. However, I tend to like the images that depict a ray of light emanating from the heart.

The Mount of Olives appears in the Old Testament a few times. In the Gospels, it appears mostly in Luke and Matthew. The Garden of Gethsemane lies at the foot of the hill. The most well-known passage is in Luke 22:39-44:

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The Mount of Olives is also where Jesus ascended to Heaven according to Acts 1:9-12.

In Matthew it is associated with Jesus's second coming, marking the place he will return.

I'm not sure what the image is supposed to represent. I get the sense it depicts the passage from look above -- Jesus before His crucifixion.

I can't remember the source, but I once read that Jesus went to the Mount every time he visited Lazarus, Martha and Mary, who lived in Bethany, which is on the mount.

5/26/2022 13:45:20

wrt Mt of Olives - the picture doesn't much resemble the Biblical description/s; so I wondered if the particular image had a more iconic/ traditional/ apocryphal/ folkloric' meaning.

5/26/2022 15:51:08

@ Bruce - That's a good point. I don't know, but I'll look into it a bit deeper.

David Llewellyn Dodds

6/5/2022 23:43:09

My first thought is that the Mount of Olives depiction resonates with the Lament over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:36-39 and Luke 13:34-35).

Hannah

6/27/2022 05:29:16

Hello,
I was thinking of your comments and Dr. Charlton’s about the Sacred Heart image. I had a mental image juxtaposition of the Sacred Heart and Aztec rite of sacrifice where the priest cuts out the victim’s heart while alive. Christianity is the opposite of the human religions where God sacrifices Himself for us. This is a Chestertonian paraphrase.

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The Two Most Common Sacred Images in Hungarian Homes

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