Until the end of World War I the Carpatho-Ukrainian region belonged to Hungary. In 1919 both Carpatho-Ukraine and Slovakia became part of the first republic of Czechoslovakia. In 1938 the region was returned to Hungary. After World War II it became part of the USSR and was incorporated into the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. In 1990 the Ukraine became an independent state. As long as the Carpatho-Ukraine was part of Hungary, the Reformed Church belonged to the Reformed Church of Hungary (cf. Hungary). In 1923 the Hungarian-speaking Ref congregations in the Carpatho-Ukraine and in Slovakia constituted themselves as the “General Reformed Church of Slovakia and the Carpatho-Ukraine.”Though the relation to the Czechoslovakian state could never satisfactorily be settled, the church was able to bear a significant evangelistic and diaconal witness. Orphanages were founded in Munkács and Nagyszöllös. In 1938 the church was reintegrated into the Reformed Church of Hungary. An even more difficult period began after World War II. For some time it remained unclear in what form the Reformed Church would constitute itself. Attempts by the Soviet authorities to incorporate it into the Association of Bapt congregations met with resistance from the pastors. As a consequence the church was ostracized. Contacts with the Reformed Church of Hungary were prohibited. Many pastors — about 40 out of 106 — fled to Hungary. At the end of the ’40s many of those who had decided to stay were arrested and deported. When they returned in 1956, there were 26 pastors serving 81 congregations. There was no opportunity for theological education. Not until the ’70s was permission granted to give some theological training to a few candidates for the ministry. The collapse of the Communist regime led to a radically new situation. The doors to the outside world opened again. Today about 50 young people prepare for the ministry at various theological schools abroad. The church has to live up to the challenges of the post-Marxist society — to make constructive use of the new free domsin an economically desolate situation (up to 80% unemployment!); to take responsibility for the institutions which have been returned to the church; to ensure a presence in realms of society which had been closed to the church in the past.
 

 
Number: 0

• reformed

• English
• German
• Hungarian
• Russian
• Ukrainian

• Apostles´ Creed
• Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
• Second Helvetic Confession (1562)

• Church of Scotland

International assiciations

• World Alliance of Reformed Churches
• World Council of Churches