Memorial column of Protestant Galley Slaves - Memorial column of Protestant Galley Slaves

A place reminiscent of the crimes of tyranny, the suffering of the victims, and the heroism.

Behind the Great Reformed Church, in the memorial garden, stands an obelisk about five meters high. The monument to the widow. It was made in 1895 by the stone and tombstone carving enterprise "Antal Gerenday and his son" under the direction of the sculptor Béla Gerenday, at the expense of Mihályné Hegyi, a citizen of Debrecen. Hungarian King Lipót I was one of the most ruthless executors of the Counter-Reformation. In 1674, 800 Hungarian Protestant pastors and teachers were summoned to a special court in Bratislava. About three hundred appeared at the trial, where they were charged with treason, treason, and violation of the Catholic Church and sentenced to death. The verdict was subsequently reversed, according to which they either convert to the Catholic religion or go into galley captivity. Torture has also helped “facilitate” the conversion to the Catholic faith. Many broke, but in eighty-nine they still refused to renounce their faith. Forty-two of them were escorted to Naples on foot. Twenty-six eventually remained due to illness, death, and escape. They have fallen on the galaxies of the Spanish viceroy, despite protests from Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Dutch Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter was in the Mediterranean with a fleet. The Dutch parliament ordered the release of the Hungarian galleys. Because the Spaniards were in dire need of Dutch naval help against the French, De Ruyter was able to agree with the Spanish Viceroy of Naples and on February 11, 1676, the 26 Hungarian preachers were released. But Ruyter soon survived his humanitarian act. He collided with the French fleet on April 22, 1676, was seriously wounded by a cannonball and died of his injuries on the evening of the 29th. Its resting place is in the New Church in Amsterdam. II. On the occasion of Pope John Paul's first trip to Hungary, he also met with representatives of Protestant churches. On August 18, 1991, at the Great Church in Debrecen, he gave a speech in English at an ecumenical service and then blessed a wreath, which he placed with his own hands on the Memorial Column of the Gaul Pieces. A bronze wreath on the west side of the column is reminiscent of the event.

There is also a memorial column to the Gaul Pieces in the square, which was erected in 1895 in memory of the Protestant pastors who suffered for their faith and the genius Dutch sailor, Admiral Ruyter.

A memorial column of galleys erected by a wealthy citizen of Debrecen. The story of the reformers sentenced to galley abduction and their suffering until their release is written by Forty Preacher, writer George of Moldova. those interested can get to know him from his work.

An important monument to Debrecen's history. II. János Pápa also crowned in 1991. Magda Szabo's mother-in-law relatives also include her name. (so he placed the wreath from Dóczis's class)

Good, good, it goes as a memorial, but architecturally it’s a big zero. Who is entrusted with the construction of such a noble thing and despises history and the interests of the community!

This memorial column was erected in 1895. At first glance, it’s strange why galleys have a memorial column, but walking around and reading the story is understandable. Inscription on the memorial column: Dutch Admiral De Ruyter, the Savior.1676. Feb.11. The monument was erected at the expense of the widow Mihály Hegyi, in memory of the Protestant pastors who were taken to gallop for their faith in 1675 during the counter-Reformation persecution referred to by the Protestants as a 'decade of mourning'. The obelisk was inaugurated on the two hundredth anniversary. A globe covered with stars 5 meters high, a galley on the front and an open Bible on the other.