Latest News #278
April 30, 2004

The following news concerns Hungary.

Bible Society meets supporters through International Book Festival

The Hungarian Bible Society's stall at the 11th Budapest International Book Festival, 22-25 April, 2004. General Secretary Kálmán Tarr is on the left. The special guest at this event was German President Johannes Rau, who was presented by the Bible Society with a German-Hungarian New Testament. Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Hungarian Bible Society (HUN04DJ-1.JPG)

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Publishing the Scriptures in a wide range of formats is a very significant element of the Hungarian Bible Society's mission. One of these publications, a German-Hungarian New Testament which first appeared in 1991, was among the items which were presented to German President Johannes Rau when he visited the 11th Budapest International Book Festival.

The Bible Society regards the festival, which this year took place on April 22-25, as one of the highlights of its annual schedule (see World Report 366/6 for a report on its involvement in 2001).

Visitors at the 11th Budapest International Book Festival, 22-25 April, 2004, browse the Hungarian Bible Society's stall. Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Hungarian Bible Society (HUN04DJ-4.JPG)

The festival is a very important forum for publishing professionals, but also attracts many ordinary members of the public who are interested in latest developments in the publishing world. While the Society does not benefit financially from being present there, as the associated costs are high, it feels that having a stall brings considerable benefits in terms of boosting its reputation and profile.

The stall was run jointly with John Calvin Publishing House, a unit of the Hungarian Reformed Church, to which the majority of the Society's donors and customers belong. A special invitation to the festival was sent out to donors whose details appear in the Society's database, and this brought a very positive response, according to the Society's Ottó Pecsuk. Many people who visited the stall commented favourably about the Society's presence at such a prestigious event, Mr Pecsuk added.

The Hungarian Bible Society proudly displays a range of products on its stall at the 11th Budapest International Book Festival, 22-25 April, 2004. General Secretary Kálmán Tarr is in the centre. Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Hungarian Bible Society (HUN04DJ-5.JPG)

The 'special guest' at this year's festival was Germany, and the opening ceremony was performed jointly by President Rau and his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Mádl. President Rau, a committed member of the German Protestant Church, has always sought to foster strong links between German and Hungarian Protestants. The Bible Society decided, therefore, that a German-Hungarian New Testament, one of a number of diglot editions which it has produced in order to better serve the needs of foreigners living in Hungary, would be a very appropriate gift.