Office of Morals, Doctrine and Spirituality

Tallinn, Estonia, (November 18, 2012)

+Metropolitan Scholarios-Gennadius III, OSB; Protohierarch, and the Holy Synod of the Œcumenical Canonical Orthodox Church Worldwide (ŒCOCW) enthusiastically congratulate the +Most Rev. Rajmond P. Márton, Thrd, O.S.F., PhD, ThD, Bishop of Central Hungary, Old Catholic Mission, Hungary on his recent receipt of Hungarian Citizenship.

Nearly a century ago to date the Márton family like many Eastern European families was traumatically separated by the turmoil and violence of war.  However, events on Friday, November 16, 2012 ended that tragedy and soothed these wounds when the Márton family was again united with their ancestral home and history.

Through the age-old hospitable gesture of a shake of hands, Hungarian Ambassador Erik Haupt welcomed +Bishop Márton to Hungary as a new officially recognized Hungarian citizen.  +Bishop Márton at 65 years of age is one of the first Old Catholic bishops to represent the Old Catholic faith expression publicly in Hungary since the practice of religious suppression was instituted in the early 20th century.  This historic action is illustrative of the resiliency and conquest of the human spirit over tremendous adversity.

The ŒCOCW hopes that this new development signals a new era of religious and government cooperation that will bear much fruit for the benefit of all Hungarians through humanitarian, economic, and social advancement.

The Œcumenical Canonical Orthodox Church Worldwide shares close apostolic, diplomatic, missionary, and ecclesiastical relationships with +Bishop Márton and the Holy Synod of the ŒCOCW along with +Metropolitan Scholarios-Gennadius III, OSB celebrate this new milestone +His Grace  and the Old Catholic Mission has established in Hungary and Eastern Europe.

The Holy Synod,

+Metropolitan Scholarios-Gennadius III, OSB
Protohierarch
Œcumenical Canonical Orthodox Church Worldwide©
Old Catholic Orthodox Church©