Korond Partner Church
The Korond Unitarians, Transylvania |
A Description of our Partner Church
The Unitarian congregation of Korond has 800 members with 200 children younger than eighteen years old. They have a youth program, and a woman’s association. The Sunday school has children less than fourteen years old. In the summer, the church has a camp for youth and children. The Korond Unitarian Church is on the main road that runs through the center of the village, along which many shops selling Hungarian crafts are found. The actual date of construction is unknown but the estimate is sometime in the 1400s. A wall encloses the church. The wall provided the Székely villagers protection from Ottoman invaders. The main entrance to the church faces south. |
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Inside the church the Sanctuary seats up to 300 people. Women sit on the west side and men on the east. Like all Unitarian churches in Transylvania, embroidered cloth decorates the church, (in Korond’s case red on white embroidery).
In front of the pulpit is a round Communion table covered with an embroidered cloth. The Transylvanians celebrate communion four times a year (Harvest, Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost).
In front of the pulpit is a round Communion table covered with an embroidered cloth. The Transylvanians celebrate communion four times a year (Harvest, Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost).
Kophias (carved wooden pillars of Székely origins) stand on the north side of the church, within the walls of the church grounds. In ancient times Kophias were wooden weapons, wooden clubs. Today they are memorial markers. They are about five inches by five inches, and stand about six feet tall. From about three feet from the ground to the top, a wood carver has carved the post with geometric designs. Each design is the same height, about five inches. One memorializes the Jews in the village who died in World War II.
On the west side of the church, outside the wall, is a guesthouse where visitors can stay.
Outside the wall east of the church is the parsonage where the church’s two ministers (a clergy couple) and their family live. There is also a meeting room for classes and board meetings. A wood furnace heats the parsonage and supplies hot water. A brick driveway includes the designs of the Transylvanian Unitarian Symbol and a Flaming Chalice.
Read the latest updates.
Read about the Village of Korond, Transylvania
Read about the Relationship between the UU Church of Sarasota and the Korond Unitarians
Read about the Korond Ministers and Their Family
Read about the Village of Korond, Transylvania
Read about the Relationship between the UU Church of Sarasota and the Korond Unitarians
Read about the Korond Ministers and Their Family