The life and work of Gábor Őri Fülep

Abstract

This paper presents the life story of Gábor Őri Fülep, an important bishop and professor of 18th century Hungarian Reformed Church history. In contrast to the extensive research conducted on the history of the Church during the Reformation, the 18th century continues to be the subject of undue neglect, despite its pivotal role in the survival of the Reformed Church. Fülep Őri's career is important not only because he was an excellent bishop of his time, but also because his peregrination matches that of the most outstanding figures of the 17th century.
Fülep Gábor Őri, the 5th bishop of the Cistibiscan Church District, was born in 1739 in Sajószentpéter. His peregrination in the Netherlands was long and successful, and after his studies in Franeker and Leiden he received a doctorate in theology from Utrecht in 1765. On his return, he was ordained a pastor, and after a few years of service, in 1772, he was invited to teach theology at the College of Sárospatak. As a professor, he held the office of rector 8 times, in 1785 he was a member of the delegation that discussed the lower school textbooks in Vienna, and in 1791 he participated in and was a committee clerk at the Synod of Buda. In 1797, he was elected bishop of the church district, and he took office in 1799. The same year, he was elected pastor of his hometown, where he served for almost a quarter of a century until his death. As bishop, he made important organizational changes. As a scholar, he mainly translated the works of the most important European Protestant thinkers of his time, thus contributing to the renewal of the Hungarian language. In 1790, in recognition of his work, he was nominated for membership in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, which was soon to be founded.