Chapel of Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

See, I set before you today life and prosperity…” (Deuteronomy 30,15)
By Szegedi Értékek / 2015. November 19.

Now, Tápé is one of Szeged’s districts but formerly, it was an independent settlement. Both naming, “tápé”, “tápaiak” are used for their inhabitants. It has a nearly 900 years long history. In its cemetery, there is an old chapel which has a legendary history and past so not only its building but also its history should be preserved as a value. Keep reading and if you have time and you want it, go and watch it.

Did you know?

  1. István Miklós was born with teeth so according to the folk belief, he was a shaman.
  2. The meaning of scapular is a garment suspended from the shoulders.
  3. The most important Carmelite shrine in Hungary is Attyapuszta (Veszprém county), where the female members of the Carmelite order live.
  4. Tápé was a popular venue for the painters, writers who lived in Szeged. A lot of paintings and poems preserve the memories of Tápé.
  5. According to the local legend, Francis II Rákóczi also visited Tápé.
  6. Tápé is the centre of bulrush-weaving.
  7. Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel.
  8. Empress Elisabeth of Austria was also healed by István Miklós, the shaman when she visited Tápé.
  9. The builder of the church was István Miklós who brought home some religious relics from his pilgrimage and put it in the chapel. So the church has a “saint store”.
  10. Carmelites liked to pray the seraphic rosary which is about the seven joys of Virgin Mary.
  11. According to the belief of old people in Szeged, who dies on Saturday, she/he will find salvation sooner.
  12. After it was built, mainly women kept order in the chapel, the main upkeep was done by men.
  13. The chapel is a protected historic building now.

13+1. On the high altar, there is an image of Holy Virgin Maria - the version of the famous Maria-hilf-picture of Passau which is also widespread in Hungary - which was given by Franz Joseph I of Austria and the Hungarian king in 1883. Franz Joseph also visited Tápé when he visited Szeged on 15th October 1883, after the great flood.

Origin of the Chapel

Tápé is in Öregtemető (Ótemető) in Szeged. The establishment of the chapel was the result of the great flood in Szeged in 1879. The flood totally destroyed Tápé, so the chapel was built up as a reconstruction pledge in 1880. It was built as a community establishment, without the supervision of the Church.

The building of the chapel was initiated by a local inhabitant, István Miklós Jakó (1838-1895). According to the legend, the chapel was built up by his own hands.

The chapel replaced the former chapel which was built up as an anti-plague pledge before the great flood. The chapel is a protected historic building now.

Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (“Kalmárhögyi Boldogasszony” as peasant women say in Szeged) is celebrated regularly all over the country. This is an important feast of the Carmelite Order.

Carmelites respect prophet Elijah as their spirit ancestor, he lived a sequestered life in Mount Carmel. Carmelite Order was founded by Simon Stock (†1265). According to the traditions, Blessed Virgin Mary with saints appeared to him and give him a scapular, a garment and she said who died clothed in it would be saved.

Only a Carmelite monk or another priest who was authorized can put on somebody a scapular. Scapular is worn by every level of the society. It is known that Habsburg kings and also Ferenc Deák wore scapular.

Reference:

Magyar Katolikus lexikon: http://lexikon.katolikus.hu/K/K%C3%A1rmelhegyi%20Boldogasszony.html

Respect of Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Szeged

Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on 16th July every year. Nine days before this day, women came together in the chapel of the cemetery from Szeged, Alsóváros. During the praying, at least 9 people had to attend church. The scapulars were blessed by the priest during the mass. According to the folk belief, the scapulars have to be touched in trouble.

References:

 

Bálint Sándor: Szegedi szótár I-II. Budapest, 1957

Bálint Sándor: Népi hitvilág. Tápé, 1971

Bálint Sándor: A szögedi nemzet. Első rész. MFM évkönyve, 1974-1975. Szeged

Bálint Sándor: A szögedi nemzet. Harmadik rész. MFM évkönyve, 1978-1979. Szeged

Barna Gábor-Bálint Sándor: Búcsújáró magyarok. Budapest, 1994

Barna Gábor: Devotio Hungarorum 10. Egy szent raktár. Szeged, 2003

Csongrád megye építészeti emlékei. Szeged, 2000

Ilia Mihály-Juhász Antal: Tápé története és néprajza. Tápé, 1971

ifj. Lele József: Tápéi búcsúvezetők és szentemberek. In. Barna Gábor: Szentemberek a vallásos élet szervezői egyéniségi. Szeged, 1998

ifj. Lele József:  A tápaiak hite. Tápé, 1998

Lovász Irén: Szakrális kommunikáció. Bp., 2002

Pap Ádám: Szeged-Tápé, Öregtemető tömbjének rendezése. Kulturális Örökségvédelmi hatástanulmány. Szeged, 2012

http://www.szegedvaros.hu/ertektar/7702-karmelhegyi-boldogasszony-kapolna.html

http://egykor.hu/szeged/karmelhegyi-temetokapolna/1150

http://lexikon.katolikus.hu/K/K%C3%A1rmelhegyi%20Boldogasszony.html

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