The Solemnity of Saint Martin

The Saint Martin Prize Ceremony took place in the presence of 250 invited participants in Pannonhalma on 18 November. This year, the prize established by the Archabbey of Pannonhalma, the Herend Porcelain Manufactory, and the Bábolna National Stud-Farm was awarded to János Áder and his wife, Anita Herczeg, the founders of the Regőczi Foundation supporting those orphaned by Covid-19. The Prize was established with the aim to contribute to making our national heritage, cultural riches and realised social commitment better and better known, and to capitalize and preserve the unique conditions of the Pannon-region. With awarding the Prize, those who established it yearly recognize the outstanding human achievements that serve the above-mentioned aims. Archabbot Cirill T. Hortobágyi’s words of welcome were followed by a brief concert by Pulzus String Quartet, then Kata Molnár-Bánffy (head of Képmás Publishing House and Salt Communications) addressed the meeting. The ceremony of prize-giving was followed by a reception, it was completed by Tanai Péter (Director of the Museum) who showed the interested guests around in the collection of minerals newly located in the corridor of collections; in addition, Ilona Ásványi (Director of the Library) and Tamás Dénesi (Director of the Archives) put on show the lately conserved documents of the two collections: the 15th-century handwritten Pfannberg Missal and the 11-metre-long written pleadings of Deáki from 1568.