On 18 May 2026, the book A rétfalui ekklesiai tanács gyűléseinek munkáit magába foglaló könyv (Minutes of the Retfala Church Council) was presented at the Reformed Church in Retfala by Denis Njari, PhD, a professor at the Department of History, and co-editor Marin Blaženović. The presentation began at 6 p.m. and brought together numerous guests from cultural, religious and academic circles.

The work presents and examines the minutes of the church council recorded between 1813 and 1863, making a valuable contribution to research into the local history of Retfala, as well as the broader social and cultural history of Slavonia in the nineteenth century.

Those in attendance included Robert Jankovics, a Member of the Croatian Parliament representing the Hungarian national minority; János Magdó, Consul General of Hungary; Péter Szenn, Bishop of the Reformed Christian Calvinist Church in Croatia; Zsombor Lábadi, Head of the Chair of Hungarian Language at our Faculty; and Dean Ivan Trojan.

Bishop Szenn emphasised the importance of historical works in understanding identity and community. He noted that publications of this kind contribute to a better understanding of one’s own past, origins and social values, as well as the importance of spirituality and faith in the lives of individuals and communities.

Dean Ivan Trojan expressed his satisfaction that the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek has among its professors an expert such as Denis Njari, whom he described as an outstanding authority on historiography and Hungarian culture. He also emphasised that projects of this kind make an important contribution to intercultural connections and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

Marin Blaženović presented the content and research significance of the work, explaining that the book was created with the aim of reconstructing the social, institutional and denominational development of Retfala between 1813 and 1863. Particular emphasis was placed on the value of the handwritten book of minutes as a source for studying the everyday life of the local community. “It is an administrative protocol register in which decisions, disputes concerning property and labour, disciplinary proceedings and other aspects of the parish’s internal life were recorded,” he noted during the presentation.

He also explained that he did not know Hungarian when the transcription process began, but successfully completed the transcription of the original material with the help of expert verification.

The minutes record offences, disputes, financial obligations, institutional decisions and various aspects of the internal life of the Reformed community. Since its creation in 1813, the manuscript has been kept at the Reformed Parish Office in Retfala and, according to available information, had not previously been subjected to systematic academic examination and research.

The physical characteristics of the book itself were also discussed during the presentation. The manuscript was written with a quill and ink. Its pages are not numbered, but the entries are dated and organised into paragraphs followed by the pastors’ signatures. The cursive handwriting, frequent abbreviations and minor damage provide further evidence of the source’s age and authenticity.

The event took place in a formal and pleasant atmosphere, and the presentation once again highlighted the importance of preserving and researching local historical heritage. Denis Njari received sincere congratulations on this valuable historiographical achievement, along with the hope that his future work will continue to contribute to the study of the history and cultural heritage of Slavonia.

Text: Lana Trabak