Investiture Ceremony - Liverpool

The Vitézi Rend United Kingdom Branch held its ceremonial knighthood induction on October 26, 2024, at the Our Lady and St. Nicholas church in Liverpool.

This marked the sixth occasion the Vitézi Rend raised the Hungarian flag in the United Kingdom. The extraordinary knighthood ceremony took place in Liverpool's city center at the Our Lady and St. Nicholas church. The guest of honor was Lieutenant Colonel Zsolt Laukó, the military and air attaché at the Hungarian Embassy in London. Participants came not only from England but also from the Hungarian communities of Wales and Scotland. After the grand procession, we heard "Hazám Hazám" (My Homeland, My Homeland) from Ferenc Erkel’s opera Bánk Bán, performed by Andrea Kolarics, a musical actress.

Following this, Dr. vitéz Lemhényi Baron Zsigmond András, the deputy Grand Captain, gave a speech, remembering the events of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight. An ecumenical service was led by Reverend vitéz Zoltán Sáfrány. This year, for the first time, the event was held in both Hungarian and English. The Hungarian narration was provided by Márta Grund, while Cadet Natália Grund served as the English narrator.

After the speeches, medals and awards were presented, and the highlight of the day—the knighthood ceremony—followed.

Awards:

Dr. vitéz Lemhényi Baron Zsigmond András, the deputy Grand Captain, received the Vitézi Rend Centenary Merit Cross. vitéz Simon Enrico was awarded the Horthy Bronze Commemorative Medal and promoted to vitéz second lieutenant, while vitéz Zoltán Sáfrány received the same medal and was promoted to vitéz sergeant. The Horthy Bronze Commemorative Medal was also awarded to vitéz Ildikó Vanó, vitéz Péter Mihály Attila, and vitéz András Aberle. Attila Torma received the Vitézi Rend Merit Medal, and Anita Takács was honored with the Vitézi Rend Maternal Merit Medal. Inducted

Knights:

During the ceremony, 8 new knights took the oath of knighthood, and 2 cadets were inducted. The new knights were: Balázs Róbert, Jordan Diamond, Lukácsa Szabolcs István, Lukoviczki Gábor, Nánási István Gábor, Sáfrány Tamás, Simon Richard Róbert, and Székely-Magyari Csongor. The two cadets inducted were Lukácsa Hanna Kinga and Natália Grund.

This year marked the first time the Vitézi Rend United Kingdom Branch inducted posthumous nominees. György Boldus, late Hungarian Royal Army colonel, who settled with his family in Rochdale, near Manchester, in 1948, was posthumously inducted. His knighthood certificate was received by his granddaughter, Judit Buckley-Szakály. György Boldus held multiple wartime and peacetime awards, including the Saint László and Saint George Orders of Knighthood, and passed away on September 13, 1978, at the age of 79. His final resting place is in the Roman Catholic cemetery of Rochdale, where he was buried on September 19. Father Antal Ürge, a teacher at the Székesfehérvár Seminary, was also remembered. He arrived in England on Christmas Eve 1956, where he immediately began his pastoral work with Hungarian refugees. He passed away on February 4, 1957, from a stroke. Father Ürge was the first 1956 refugee to pass away in Northern England. His legacy lives on!

Memorial:

Following the speech by vitéz Babenyecz Attila, the newly inducted knights were addressed by vitéz Simon Richard Róbert, and we listened to György Dörner’s monologue titled 1956: The Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight, performed by Andrea Kolarics. Reverend Zoltán Sáfrány then gave a blessing. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Hungarian and United Kingdom national anthems.

Following the heartfelt and well-executed ceremony, both group and individual photographs were taken. The festive lunch was served in the event room of The Racquet Club Hotel. After a table blessing by Reverend Zoltán Sáfrány, speeches followed, and we raised our glasses to King Charles III and President Tamás Sulyok. The exquisite meal included Leek and Potato Soup with homemade bread, Roast Chicken Breast with New Potatoes and oven-baked parsnips and carrots, and Meringue with Fresh Fruit and Cream. The meal was accompanied by fine Hungarian wines, and the lunch passed in a pleasant atmosphere.

We can proudly say that we once again spent a very successful and enjoyable day together in Liverpool.