Danube Day 2008

On the 552^nd anniversary of the Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) Battle of 1456

Danube Day Celebration Schedule for

Tuesday, 22^nd July 2008

on the river embankment between Chain Bridge and Elisabeth Bridge

9.⁰⁰ a.m.	Gather at Március 15 Square and Eötvös Square under the banners of Hunyadi and Capistrano.
10.⁰⁰ a.m.	March together along the promenade to the Vigadó ship station (evoking the one-time march of the forces of Hunyadi and Capistrano to liberate Nándorfehérvár).
10.³⁰ a.m.	Commemoration ceremony and wreath-laying in honour of those who died in the battle, the shipmen, victims of the river and those, whose work is related to the river. - Opening speech - Welcoming remarks by the Ambassador of Serbia (planed) - Recital by Kecskes Music Ensemble - Poems - Psalm and historic national songs - Shipmen's prayer
11.³⁰ a.m.	Blessing and prayer. Representatives of the historic religious communities in Hungary confer blessing and convey prayer for those who died in the battle, the shipmen, the victims of the river and those with river related work
	Guests invited to attend the commemoration and the wreath-laying ceremony include the representatives of main churches in Hungary, as well as ambassadors and delegates of countries along the Danube - Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine - along with allies, who fought in the battle together - Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the Vatican - and the one-time adversary now friend: Turkey. We pay tribute to all fighting in the battle by presenting the national flag of each country represented.
at noon	Crew members on board a the medieval ship on the river lay the national wreaths and flowers on the river while bells toll at midday and cannons fire 12 rounds of salute.
4.⁰⁰ p.m.	"Ships and Shipping in the Renaissance Age" presentation with slide-show by Dr. Balazs Meszaros in the Budapest Museum of Transportation.
4.³⁰ p.m.	"Flags and Ensigns on the Danube River" exhibition opening in the Budapest Museum of Transportation.
6.⁰⁰ p.m.	Ecumenical service in the Budapest Downtown Main Parish Church (Belvárosi Főplébániatemplom)
	The Downtown Main Parish Church is the oldest church in Budapest. It is located on Március 15 Square on the Pest side of the Danube near the Elizabeth Bridge, next to the ruins of a Roman riverside fortress. It was in this church in 1541 that Sultan Suleyman declared the city of Pest a part of the Turkish Empire. The church was later used as a Turkish Mosque. The church, which was eventually restored to its original function, displays today architectural features of the Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque times. A unique treasure of the church is an original Muslim mihrab preserved with a Turkish inscription inside
	"To celebrate the victory big fires of joy were set and masses were held all over Europe"
8.⁰⁰ p.m.	Bonfire and folk dance evening inviting the public to dance on March 15 Square.

Tentative accompanying programs surrounding the July 22 commemoration

BOOK LAUNCH
on July 10 - "The Chronicle of Ship Forces" by Dr. Szentkláray Jenő, first printed in 1885

EXHIBITION
on July 19-20 (July 26-27) - The History of Nándorfehérvár,
Remembering János Hunyadi and János Kapisztrán,
Memoirs of Saint Elisabeth of the Arpad Dynasty

CONCERTS and PERFORMANCES
on July 27 - Danube Day Celebration Concert in the March 15 Square Downtown Main Parish Church

TOURS
on the river Budapest-Nándorfehérvár-Black See rowing tour from July 12 to August 16
(Departure July 12 7.⁰⁰ p.m from "Megyeri Csárda" Újpest Üdülő sor 7/a.
Register with János Varga: 06-30-327-0990)

International Danube Tour, starts on June 24 in Ingolstadt - arrives in Hungary on July 18-24

THEME CRUISE SERVICE
on July 22 on a Rome-age ship between Elisabeth and Árpád Bridge

TOWNS AND VILLAGES FROM HUNGARY AND ABROAD CELEBRATE TOGETHER