Unitarian ideas in the West have had historical counterparts in other parts of the world. From the time of the Reformation, one strain of Unitarianism has persisted in Transylvania, an Eastern European region populated largely by Hungarian speakers. After World War I, Transylvania was taken from Hungary and awarded to Romania. At that time, Unitarians in North America established sister church relationships in the region, to monitor how Unitarians and other linguistic and religious minorities were faring under the new government.

These contacts were shattered by World War II and then cold war politics. After the overthrow of the Ceausescu regime in 1989, however, the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council began rebuilding relationships with Unitarian congregations in Transylvania. In 1991, University Unitarian established a partnership with a small church in the village of Alsorakos, Romania.

[0]The Rev. Jozsef Szabo This relationship has led to pilgrimages by UUC members to Transylvania, at approximately two-year intervals. These trips are organized by the UU Partner Church Council. Travelers tour sites associated with Unitarian history and spend several days in the partner village. Members have returned from these pilgrimages with not only a renewed appreciation for our historical roots, but also a lasting impression of the steadfast endurance of a centuries-old faith tradition. Plus, to experience the bountiful hospitality of our Alsorakos counterparts and participate with them in worship and song can be life-changing.

At UUC, keeping the connection strong is the work of the Alsorakos-Seattle Partner Church Committee. It meets monthly to share news from Alsorakos and to plan activities promoting our partner church relationship. Contact Ruth Pettis [0] for more information.

Links of interest

Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council [1]

Unitarian Transylvania Archives Project [2]

Unitarian Church in Hungary [3]