Benedictine Secondary School, Pannonhalma
Encyclopedia
The Benedictine Secondary School of Pannonhalma is an independent Roman Catholic boarding school for boys, one of the most distinguished secondary schools in Hungary
, led by and situated next to the thousand-year-old Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey above Pannonhalma
, Győr-Moson-Sopron county.
; it was taken up from 1802, and the education started again. From 1919, the leadership wanted to open a public school, and they succeeded in 1921 with 22 students. In 1932, however, due to the economic depression, it had to be closed. It re-opened in its present form in 1939 as an "Italian" secondary school, with emphasis on the Italian language
and culture. By this year, it received separate buildings for the education and the dormitories, which are still in use. In 1948 it was brought under State control, and it could reopen in 1950. It was among the few Catholic schools which didn't cease functioning even in the Socialist era (which ended in 1989). The school traditionally attracted scions of the Hungarian noble families
(e.g. Crouy-Chanel, Cseszneky, Erdődy
, Forgách, Zichy
). Under the 1995 renovations the secondary school was completely renewed.
at the age of 18. There are usually two classes in every year, each with 30-40 people.
Students are allowed to choose between German
and English
, and between Italian
, French
and Latin
(they may take up further languages as well). Specialization is possible from the age of 16 in any two subjects. Approximately half the teachers are monks, and the other half is lay (men and women). There are several study circle
s available for the students, and they may see movies in the school twice a week (usually an art film
on Wednesday and a popular film on Saturday). Students live in dormitories of 30 until the age of 16, and in rooms of 4 (sometimes 2) persons during the last two years.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, led by and situated next to the thousand-year-old Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey above Pannonhalma
Pannonhalma
Pannonhalma is a town in western Hungary, in Győr-Moson-Sopron county with approximately 4,000 inhabitants. It is about from Győr. Archduke Otto Habsburg's heart is kept at the Pannonhalma Archabbey, while his body was laid at the Capuchin Crypt in the old Imperial capital of Vienna.-History:The...
, Győr-Moson-Sopron county.
History
Education began soon after the foundation in 996, so this date can be regarded as the beginning of school education in Hungary. Education had to be ceased at the Turkish invasion in the middle of the 16th century, but it re-started in 1690, teaching would-be monks after secondary school. The Benedictine order was dissolved in 1786 by Joseph IIJoseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
; it was taken up from 1802, and the education started again. From 1919, the leadership wanted to open a public school, and they succeeded in 1921 with 22 students. In 1932, however, due to the economic depression, it had to be closed. It re-opened in its present form in 1939 as an "Italian" secondary school, with emphasis on the Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and culture. By this year, it received separate buildings for the education and the dormitories, which are still in use. In 1948 it was brought under State control, and it could reopen in 1950. It was among the few Catholic schools which didn't cease functioning even in the Socialist era (which ended in 1989). The school traditionally attracted scions of the Hungarian noble families
Nobility and royalty of the Kingdom of Hungary
This article deals with titles of the nobility and royalty of the Kingdom of Hungary.-Earlier usage :Before the accession of the Habsburgs, the nobility was structured according to the offices held in the administration of the Kingdom...
(e.g. Crouy-Chanel, Cseszneky, Erdődy
Erdody
Erdődy is the name of a Hungarian noble family in the Kingdom of Hungary . The Habsburg Monarchy granted them the title Graf / Gräfin....
, Forgách, Zichy
Zichy
Zichy , the name of a noble Magyar family, conspicuous in Hungarian history from the latter part of the 13th century onwards.-Brief history of the Zichy:...
). Under the 1995 renovations the secondary school was completely renewed.
Today
Although it is a prestigious school, usually among the top five of Hungary (cf. Public school (UK)), only a small tuition fee is required, in accordance with one's means. Today there are about 300 students studying here for four or six years (from the age of 12 or 14), until the maturity examination certificateMatura
Matura or a similar term is the common name for the high-school leaving exam or "maturity exam" in various countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia,...
at the age of 18. There are usually two classes in every year, each with 30-40 people.
Students are allowed to choose between German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and between Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
(they may take up further languages as well). Specialization is possible from the age of 16 in any two subjects. Approximately half the teachers are monks, and the other half is lay (men and women). There are several study circle
Study circle
A study circle is a small group of people who meet multiple times to discuss an issue. Study circles may be formed to discuss anything from politics to religion to hobbies...
s available for the students, and they may see movies in the school twice a week (usually an art film
Art film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
on Wednesday and a popular film on Saturday). Students live in dormitories of 30 until the age of 16, and in rooms of 4 (sometimes 2) persons during the last two years.
Alumni
- Pál GáborPál GáborPál Gábor was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. He directed 20 films between 1962 and 1987. In 1979, he was a member of the jury at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
, Hungarian film director - Balázs GulyásBalazs GulyasBalázs Gulyás is a Hungarian neurobiologist.-Personalia:Gulyás is a Hungarian born neurobiologist now working and residing in Sweden. Since 1988, Gulyás has been living in Stockholm, working at the Karolinska Institute...
, Hungarian-Swedish neurobiologist, university professor - Imre GyöngyössyImre GyöngyössyImre Gyöngyössy was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. His film Job's Revolt , which he co-directed with Barna Kabay, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.-External links:...
, Hungarian film director, poet - Otto von HabsburgOtto von HabsburgOtto von Habsburg , also known by his royal name as Archduke Otto of Austria, was the last Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary from 1916 until the dissolution of the empire in 1918, a realm which comprised modern-day Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia,...
, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, educated by monks from the Secondary School of Pannonhalma - Marcell JankovicsMarcell JankovicsMarcell Jankovics is a Hungarian graphic artist, cartoon director, animator and author. He received his Oscar nomination for the 1974 animated short movie "Sisyphus".d That movie was used for a GMC Yukon Hybrid ad during the 2008 Super Bowl based on an agreement between the Hungarian film studio...
, Hungarian film director - Benedek JávorBenedek JávorBenedek Jávor is a Hungarian biologist, environmentalist and politician, a leading member of the Politics Can Be Different party....
, Hungarian biologist, politician, member of the Hungarian parliament - István Kukorelli, Hungarian lawyer, member of constitutional court
- Béla Lipták, Hungarian-American scientist
- Miklós Maróth, Hungarian filologist, orientalist, university professor
- Károly Méhes, Hungarian poet, writer, journalist
- Gáspár NagyGáspár NagyGáspár Nagy was a Hungarian poet and writer.-Life:He graduated from the Benedictine Grammar School of Pannonhalma where he studied Library Science in Szombathely, then Aesthetics and Sociology in Budapest....
, Hungarian poet, editor - László Nógrádi, Hungarian politician, minister
- Gergely Olosz, Romanian-Hungarian politician, member of the Romanian parliament
- Gábor VilágosiGábor VilágosiGábor Világosi is a Hungarian politician and jurist, who served as one of the Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly of Hungary from September 16, 2004 to May 13, 2010. He was a member of the National Assembly of Hungary between 1990 and 2010. He was a founding member of the Alliance of Free...
, Hungarian lawyer, politician, vice-speaker of the Hungarian parliament