On June 25, 2023, during a celebratory worship service, the second-year (sixth-year) Reformed students of KPTI were released. In this academic year, 12 students from the Reformed Church District of Transylvania and 8 students from the Reformed Church District of Királyhágómellék District successfully completed their theological studies and took their final master's exams.
Ceremonial release of the students graduating in the academic year 2022-2023
The worship service led by Bishop Kató Béla of the Reformed Church District of Transylvania was based on Galatians 1:10: "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." The sermon highlighted that "trying to please people or God" is one of the recurring dilemmas in pastoral service. Unconditional love and a servant's spirit towards Christ are the guiding principles that help pastors navigate this eternal dilemma.
Following the service, the graduating students took their vows. In the June 2022/2023 examination period, 12 students from the Reformed Church District of Transylvania and 8 students from the Reformed Church District of Királyhágómellék completed their theological studies and took their final master's exams. The ceremony for taking the vows was led by Chancellor Gáll Sándor on behalf of the Reformed churches. The list of students who took their vows is as follows:
From the Reformed Church District of Transylvania:
1. Aszalos Szidónia Honoráta
2. Balázs Gergő
3. Barticel-Kiss Benjámin
4. Begué Mátyás-Eugéné-Victor
5. Bíró István
6. Ilyés Hunor-István
7. Lukács Róbert-Zoltán
8. Molnár Ede
9. Nagy Ádám-Attila
10. Ördög Sándor
11. Szabó Zoárd-Attila
12. Torkos Ákos-József
From the Reformed Church District of Királyhágómellék:
1. Kocsis (Csatári) Leila
2. Juhos (Demeter) Ilona-Reményke
3. Gáti Gábor
4. Gecse Krisztián-Dániel
5. Horváth József
6. Kocsis Norbert-József
7. Nagy Dávid
8. Szilágyi István
After taking their vows, Torkos Ákos-József bid farewell to the theological community, expressing gratitude for parental support, assistance in preparing for the ministry, and the companionship of fellow students. [The farewell message can be downloaded from the attachment.]
The closing moment of the event featured Bishop Kató Béla's acceptance speech. Instead of the usual acceptance statement, the bishop brought a gift to the celebratory community: the poem "Verbum caro factum est" by Sándor Reményik, interpreted by the retired school-teacher Mátyus Ilona. The title of the poem may sound familiar to those who have often stood in front of the inscription "facing the cunningly creeping time" in the Assembly Hall. The poem, emotionally conveyed, served as guidance for the students stepping out of their university education and embarking on their journey of serving the church:
"And do not let us rely on ourselves
Neither in weapons, nor in wisdom, nor in strength,
Neither in will, nor in deceitful time,
Only in what is eternal:
In Your Word, which brings salvation to all."