May 8, 2021
Author: Vitéz Gábor von Hegyi
It has been two years since the memorial plaque of Cardinal Mindszenty’s visit to Cologne was inaugurated in the crypt of the cathedral. On the anniversary of his death this year, May 6, we prayed together for the beatify of our last prince-primate. Due to strict epidemiological regulations, the management of the cathedral allowed the presence of 20 people at the commemoration. The program began with reverence in the Chapel of Our Lady, which was celebrated by the parish priest József Lukács. It was a special experience to admire the altar of the chapel, made in 1442 by the Gothic painter Stephan Lochner of Cologne. The three-winged altarpiece depicting the angelic greeting simply fascinates one especially now that there was silence in the temple as well, as visiting is forbidden during the pandemic.
After the prayers, we were able to hear the ceremonial speech of Consul General Dr. Hanna Hittner and Ingbert Mühe. After the speeches, the Hungarian Roman Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cologne, the Consulate General of Hungary in Düsseldorf, and the Order of Vitéz placed a wreath in the crypt. After that, we had the honor of taking a group photo in front of the artistically decorated relic holder of the Three Kings. The world’s largest gold cabinet was made by goldsmith Nikolaus von Verdunt for nearly 40 years. For 850 years now, the bones rest here that we honor as remnants of the wise men of the East.
