The Száki Family

Abstract

Nearly all the available records are collected here concerning the Szenci Száky family, together with some additions and due corrections, as there are inadequacies and misinterpretations dispersed in traditional articles, even in up to date desk books. János Szenci Száki, senior (about 1600–1675), acted as superintendens to the reformed at the North-Danube era and church district between 1656 and 1675. No data are known of his home schooling and perhaps abroad theological education. He was also put on trial in the so called ‛Mourning Decade’ of protestant ministers and teachers, 1671–1681, and sentenced. By that time his son became one of the first martyrs of the protestants, chased by the ruling roman catholic bishops. In consequence, the reverend Száki resigned his post, and in the next year died. János Szenci Száki, junior (about 1630–1672), dean and reformed minister of the same district, because of his reformed faith and confession was tortured as heretics and burnt at stake 1st of September, 1672, Komárom (now Komarno, Slovakia). His fate is recorded in books and recollections of his age, other detailes of his life and education not. Ferenc Szenci Száki (about 1640–after 1694) reformed minister, younger son of the above superintendent, having absolved home studies, went to the Netherlands in 1655, where he spent nearly 12 years. There he published a whole series of dissertations, and had a doctor degree in theology. In the meantime allso spent years in Great Britain. Then he became settled in Kassel, Germany. So far no modern study have cleared up the end of his life, and nobody had summed up all of his works and activities. Perhaps offspring of the same family, son of János Szenci Száki junior, was a young reformed minister of the same name, acting in town Moson, at the Danube, near to Vienna. In the year 1671 he had outlined a manuscript liturgy, named ‛Agenda’, as a young pastor, which fortunately survived. Hungarian full title of the unpublished small booklet, and a short content is quoted here. The next year the local church of the reformed became confiscated by military power, and the young minister, author of the liturgical manuscript, expelled. No other details are known at the moment of his later life and carrier.