The Transylvanian edict of 1568, known as the Edict of Torda, is often cited as a landmark in the history of religious tolerance. The first ever decree on religious liberty was passed at the Diet of Torda held from 6 to13 January 1568. It was presided by the elected Hungarian King and Transylvanian prince János Zsigmond. The decree enshrined the right to the freedom of conscience and religion, and the free choice of clergy for congregations as well, to an extent never known before. 

It granted freedom of worship to various strains of Christianity, reflecting the Unitarian commitment to religious pluralism. This edict laid the groundwork for a more tolerant society and influenced later movements advocating for freedom of conscience. Unitarianism's early presence in Transylvania is a notable example of how new religious ideas can foster a climate of tolerance and coexistence, setting precedents that would ripple through European history.  

In Transylvania, under the leadership of figures like Francis David, Unitarianism flourished. The region became known for its relative religious freedom, allowing various denominations, including Unitarians, to coexist. This environment of tolerance was quite progressive for the time, as many parts of Europe were experiencing intense religious conflicts. The Parliament's religious resolution is perhaps Transylvania's most valuable contribution to European culture. At the next Transylvania Lectures event, the invited experts will discuss this legacy and its impact on our society. 

Speakers:  

  • Jaume de Marcos, Vice-President of the United Religions Initiative (URI) in Europe and a member of the URI Global Council and of the Interreligious and Intercultural Committee of the Council of Europe. He is also a member of the board and former president of the UNESCO Association for Interreligious Dialogue. He has a master's degree in history of religions (Autonomous University of Barcelona). He is also a distinguished member of the Michael Servetus Institute in Spain and the Spanish Society for the Science of Religions (SECR). He has published several books and papers on topics related to Michael Servetus and Radical Reformation. 
  • Rev. István Kovács, bishop of the Hungarian Unitarian Church. He studied at the Unitarian Faculty of the Protestant Theological Institute in Kolozsvár, and later spent an academic year on scholarship at Manchester College, Oxford. He served as an assistant minister in Marosvásárhely, later he was the minister of the Sepsiszentkirály–Botfalu and Sepsiszentgyörgy Unitarian Congregations. In the early 90s he was the first president of the re-established National Dávid Ferenc Unitarian Youth Association and held leadership roles for more than a decade in the National Association of Unitarian Ministers (ULOSZ). He represented his Church as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) and served for 12 years as the Director of Public Affairs of the Hungarian Unitarian Church. He became the Bishop of the Hungarian Unitarian Church in 2021. 
  • Rev. Rácz Norbert, unitarian minister, graduate of Hungarian Unitarian Church’s John Sigismund College and the Protestant Theological Institute in Kolozsvár. His field of interest includes systematic theology, philosophical aspects of religiosity and questions related to the more theoretical side of existence.  

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