When we speak of the Catholic tradition of Székely Land, we cannot ignore the Franciscans. After the storms of the Reformation, the friaries of the brown-robed friars kept the people of Csík, Gyergyó and Kászon in their faith – while also running schools, a printing press and libraries.
Guardians of the faith after the Reformation
After the 16th-century Reformation, monastic life in Transylvania almost completely disappeared: at the beginning of the 17th century friars lived only in the friary of Csíksomlyó. As there were also few secular priests, the Franciscans became the main actors of the Catholic revival. By the mid-17th century four of their friaries were operating again – in Csíksomlyó, Mikháza, Fehéregyháza and Nyújtód – and from here the order began a new expansion.
Csíksomlyó – the mother house
The friary of Csíksomlyó was founded in 1442, and its first Gothic church was built between 1442 and 1448. The friary was not only a shrine but also a cultural centre: its grammar school is mentioned as early as 1630, its printing press is associated with the name of János Kájoni, and the famous Cantionale Catholicum was published here. The present Baroque basilica was consecrated in 1876. Detailed description of the Csíksomlyó pilgrimage church
Mikháza – the friary in the Nyárád valley
In 1635 Mihály Tholdalagi, chief captain of Marosszék, bought a house and land in Mikháza for the Franciscans arriving in Marosszék. Its late Renaissance church was completed in 1678, and a school operated in the friary for more than a century. In 1949 the friars had to leave. Detailed description of the Mikháza friary
Gyergyószárhegy – home of János Kájoni
Construction of the friary above the Lázár Castle began in 1642, when István Lázár invited Franciscans to Szárhegy; in 1665 István Lázár the Younger donated the chapels and lands to the order. János Kájoni, one of the most learned Transylvanian friars of his age, lived and died here in 1687. Detailed description of the Szárhegy friary
Esztelnek – the Franciscan centre of Háromszék
The Franciscans settled in Esztelnek in the last quarter of the 17th century. The present church was built between 1710 and 1729 using elements of the old St George Chapel, and the stone friary was completed by 1750. It was rebuilt after the fire of 1921. Detailed description of the Esztelnek friary
Székelyudvarhely and Kanta
The Franciscans appeared in Székelyudvarhely as early as 1492, and the present friary was founded in 1706; construction of the church dedicated to the Apostles St Peter and St Paul began in 1730. In Kanta, a district of Kézdivásárhely, the related order of the Minorites settled at the end of the 17th century: their Holy Trinity Church was built between 1727 and 1795, and their school is one of the oldest educational institutions in Háromszék.
Tips for visitors
- Friary churches are usually open during the day, but the friary buildings are the friars' homes and can only be visited with special permission.
- On the pilgrimage days of the Franciscan shrines our feast calendar .
- The Via Mariae passes several Franciscan friaries – we wrote about walking pilgrimages in our article On the Way .
Sources of the Csíksomlyó, Mikháza and Szárhegy photos: Wikimedia Commons (authors: Mycroshop, Țetcu Mircea Rareș; CC BY 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0).
