The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia is a historic Calvinist church in Ukraine. It is the oldest Protestant church in the country, founded in the 16th century, and a significant part of the Hungarian-speaking ethnicity belong to this denomination.

History

The church was founded in 1921 when this region become part of Czechoslovakia. The church members were Hungarian ethnic people; in the time of formation their church counted approximately 65,000 members in 77 congregations. During World War II the Soviet troops deported 40,000 people from Sub-Carpathia. Transcarpathia as Zakarpattia Oblast became part of the Soviet Union. Pastors from different religions were persecuted and sometimes killed. Church schools, church buildings were taken away. It was restricted to evangelize, to worship and to conduct Sunday school. Public church activities were not permitted, except for funerals. The Soviet Union propagated a totally atheist lifestyle. In the 1970s the situation changed a bit. The church was allowed to train pastors. After the collapse of the Soviet Union things changed. From that time, the church sponsors primary and secondary Calvinist schools. Churches were open again.

Doctrine

* Second Helvetic Confession *

Heidelberg Catechism The Heidelberg Catechism (1563), one of the Three Forms of Unity, is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Calvinist Christian doctrine. It was published in 1563 in Heidelberg, ...

Demographics

The church has 120,000-140,000 members in almost 100 parishes. A significant part of ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia belong to this church. The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia has three presbyteries, namely, the Beregi, the Ugocsai and the Ungi presbyteries.

Interchurch relations

The Transcarpathian Reformed Church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the

Hungarian Reformed Communion The Hungarian Reformed Church (HRC) or Hungarian Reformed Communion ( hu, Magyar Refomátus Egyház) is a global fellowship of continental Reformed denominations historically related to the Reformed Church of Hungary. The purpose of the organiz ...

References

External links

Official website
{{Christianity in Ukraine Reformed denominations in Europe Protestantism in Ukraine

Reformed Church Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Cal ...

Members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches