Zsófia Szirtes

On 4 May 2026, during the Dies Academicus of the Saint Athanasius Greek Catholic Theological College, Thomas Németh of the University of Vienna and András Dobos, lecturer at the Saint Athanasius Greek Catholic Theological College, presented the lexicon volume published in the Collectanea Studiorum et Textuum series, devoted to the Greek Catholic dioceses and hierarchs of the nineteenth-century Kingdom of Hungary.

The Bishops’ Lexicon devoted to nineteenth-century Latin-rite prelates, published in 2025 (I–IV, CST I/7), is followed at the beginning of the new year, on the Feast of the Epiphany, by a volume presenting the biographies of the bishops of the Greek Catholic dioceses of Hungary. Spanning 210 pages, the book introduces 31 hierarchs from seven dioceses. As in Chapters I–IV, the introductory descriptions of the Greek Catholic dioceses and the bishops’ biographies in Chapter V are presented in a uniform structure and methodological framework; unlike the earlier volumes, however, the dioceses are here classified and arranged according to the Greek rite rather than by ecclesiastical provinces.

On October 8, 2025, following the event in Székesfehérvár, the presentation of the large-scale project Bishop Lexicon 1804–1918 — The Dioceses and Bishops of Hungary (1804–1918). An Institutional and Biographical Lexicon, Vols. I–IV (CST I/7), edited by Zsófia Szirtes, Péter Tusor, and Rupert Klieber (Budapest, 2025) — took place in the ceremonial hall of the Central Seminary.

Organized by the Fraknói Research Group and the Gyula Moravcsik Institute of the HUN-REN Research Centre for the Humanities, the Fraknói Summer Academy was held for the eleventh time between 29 and 31 May 2025. After being held in Nagyvárad last year, this year’s event returned once again to Budaörs and, for the first time, was also hosted in Budapest. This year, the Academy focused on Transylvanian (ecclesiastical) history and historical research.

The Bischofslexikon 1804–1918 represents the first phase of a major, grant-supported project initiated by the Fraknói Research Group within the framework of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Momentum Program, which continued through successive funding cycles. This extensive international collaboration culminated in an impressive volume published by Duncker & Humblot in Berlin: Die Bischöfe der Donaumonarchie 1804 bis 1918, containing the research findings.

The venue and theme of the Fraknói Academy, held for the tenth time, is justified by the centenary of the death of Vilmos Fraknói (1843–1924) in 2024. Vilmos Fraknói was the main organizer of Hungarian historical research in the Vatican following the gradual opening of the Holy See's collections from 1881. He initiated the Monumenta Vaticana Hungariae, and in the 1890s, using the income from his ecclesiastical benefices, he established the Hungarian Historical Institute in Rome as a private institution. He did not work alone; several others joined the efforts. The roles of his collaborators are important, yet their activities in Rome have not been thoroughly examined by historical scholarship.There is also much to be said about Fraknói Vilmos's years in Rome, his plans, and especially his legacy.

The 'Bischofslexikon 1804–1918,' the overarching mega-project of the Fraknói Research Group, concluded its first phase on Pentecost in 2020. The second phase, namely the Hungarian version ('Püspöklexikon 1804–1918'), completed by Christmas 2023. Now, on Epiphany 2024, the publication of articles by diocese begins.

After Budapest and Rome on 20th of October 2021 last time in Vienna at the Embassy of Hungary Bischofslexikon was presented.

On 22nd of September 2021 "Die Bischöfe der Donaumonarchie 1804 bis 1918. Ein amtsbiographisches Lexikon" was presented at Central Seminary in Budapest.

The Research Group (and former Lendület-program's) mega-project has ended on Pentecost 2020 thanks to an international cooperation. The volume was published by Duncker & Humblot.