Budapest

I arrived to Budapest on a Flix bus at night and my host brought me to his flat using public transport. We stayed on the Buda side and I explored the Pest side the next day. Buda + Pest = Budapest :), the two capitals of Hungary. The pointy buildings and bridges reminded me of Prague (not as great though, in my opinion). Climbing the Buda castle and seeing the city view behind the Fishers Gate was breathtaking. Meeting with other Christians and locals was most memorable. One guy introduced me to froccs (wine with bubbly water).

Duration

3 days

Accommodation

Believer’s home (3 nights)

Favorite Food

Turkey breast stuffed with chicken liver

Favorite Site

Fishers Gate

Cool Person I Met

Andris. Andris and I met for a drink after meeting through an online Christian travel group. He just got married and came back from serving with a hostel in Spain. We enjoyed conversation about travel, startups, and ministry.

Highlight

Sharing food and stories with my hosts

Big Takeaway

I’ve visited around 50 Catholic churches this past two months in Europe. I appreciate the architectural brilliance, storytelling of Jesus through art, and piety of each one I’ve seen. There are a few things I disagree with the Catholic church, I just want to share one observation I’ve had regarding this organization while traveling.

I think Catholics have an unhealthy, even superstitious fascination with relics. For example, the St. Stephens cathedral in Budapest has a 1,000 year-old “prized possession”. St. Stephen’s very own hand. Apparently when Stephen’s corpse was found many years after dying, his right hand was fully intact. Local religious leaders cut off the hand and turned it into a relic because it seemed to be a holy sign from God, representing the right hand of St. Stephens authority… To me, it sounds like more of a good luck charm then something holy. Too often, people use material things to illustrate spiritual significance but quickly lose the intent by exalting the material item itself.

Your Turn

Please share your views regarding the benefits and drawbacks of using material things to express something spiritual.

Do you think relics and aesthetics can distract spiritual people from seeking God?