Danube Day 2019

Marking the 563^th anniversary of the Battle of Belgrade-Nándorfehérvár in 1456

Danube Day Celebration

Monday, 22^nd July, 2019

on the river embankment between Chain Bridge and Elisabeth Bridge

9⁰⁰ a.m.	Gathering at Eötvös Square (at Chain Bridge ) and Március 15 Square (at Elisabeth Bridge) under the banners of János Hunyadi and John Capistrano.
10⁰⁰ a.m.	Marching to the Vigadó Embankment (evoking the one-time march of the forces of Hunyadi and Capistrano to liberate Nándorfehérvár).
10³⁰ a.m.	Commemoration ceremony and wreath-laying in honor of those who fell in the battle, the shipmen and the casualties of the river. - Welcoming remarks - Official remarks by the Ambassador of Serbia (planned) - Kecskes Ensemble recites medieval music - Poems - Psalm and folk songs - Prayer of the „royal shipmen”
11³⁰ 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. – They commemorate the victims of floods and of the ship disasters.
12⁰⁰ a.m.	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, Slovakia and Ukraine - along with allies, who fought in the battle together - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Albania and the Holy See, and the one-time adversary now friend: Turkey. We pay tribute to all those fighting in the battle by presenting the national flag of each country represented. Crew members on board the historical ship on the river lay the national wreaths and flowers on the river while bells toll at midday and cannons fire 12 salutes. We commemorate together with the representatives of churches the victims of waterways, ship disasters and natural disasters by giving a prayer and by placing flowers on the Danube river.
5⁰⁰ p.m.	Commemoration mass in the Budapest Downtown Main Parish Church in Március 15 Square.
	"To celebrate the victory big fires of joy were set and gratitude masses were held all over Europe..."
	We have decided to cancel this year our public service programme we originally planned to hold in the afternoon at March 15 Square in protest against the conduct and lack of cooperation from officers of the Budapest mayor’s office.

Let’s remember the victims together!
Please help us in keeping our society’s community together!