Hungary’s national holiday on August 20 marks the celebration of sovereign Hungarian statehood – the origin of a thousand years of national life – President Tamás Sulyok said on Wednesday during a military officer commissioning ceremony in Kossuth Square, Budapest.
In his address, President Sulyok emphasized that the founding decisions of King Saint Stephen continue to shape Hungary’s future, having charted a lasting path for the nation and securing its continued existence.
President Tamás Sulyok and Chief General Gábor Böröndi on August 20, Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd
Saint Stephen not only secured our place among the peoples of Europe of his time, but irrevocably connected the Hungarian nation to Europe,” the President said. “He made Hungarians European – along with their culture. And in turn, Europe was enriched and seasoned by the Hungarian spirit and its uniqueness. This is one of the pillars of our European identity.”
President Sulyok underscored that Saint Stephen did not dissolve the Hungarian people into the West’s value or interest spheres, but added to them. “His state’s sovereignty was not defined by others, but asserted by its own right. He became a European ruler – but remained a Hungarian king. That is the essence of Hungarian sovereignty,” the President declared.
He also described Hungary’s Christian roots as another fundamental pillar, noting that King Stephen aligned the country with Christian Europe, linking it to the faith and moral system that, in his words, “produced heroes and saints from the Hungarian people” and became a source of inspiration for national thought and creativity.
Members of the Royal Guard carry the Holy Right Hand. Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán
Sulyok highlighted that Stephen recognized the importance of legality as a foundation of permanence. “The hallmark of an independent state is the ability to legislate – and this forms the pillar of the law,” he added.
Hungary today, Sulyok said, is a sovereign European state governed by the rule of law, grounded in Christian values, and home to generous and free citizens united by a common destiny. “Our homeland belongs also to those Hungarians who live far from it,” he noted, “because our shared fate unites all Hungarians.”
Reflecting on Hungary’s heritage, the President concluded: “From King Saint Stephen, we inherited a nation built on solid foundations. That legacy has sustained us for over a thousand years. Today, we still live from it – and each generation adds its own work to this inheritance.”
Turning to the newly commissioned officers, Sulyok praised their loyalty, saying that the peace of the homeland and security of the state rests on their commitment. “It is the freely chosen loyalty, service, and sacrifice of Hungarians that preserves and upholds our home, our fellow citizens, our culture, and our values,” he said.
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