Hungarian Archaeological Findings Validate Ancient Legend
Laboratory analysis of artefacts uncovered in Bodajk has confirmed what was once only known through legend.
Thanks to funding from the Szent István Király Museum, samples from various archaeological excavations were analysed for radiocarbon dating at the Hertelendi Ede Environmental Analytical Laboratory of the Institute for Nuclear Research in Debrecen. This scientific technique determines the age of materials by measuring the decay of naturally occurring carbon isotopes. In simple terms, the less C-14 present, the older the artefact.
Archaeologist Frigyes Szücsi included human skeletal remains from a 2022 rescue excavation at the Bodajk Calvary among the examined samples. The discovery of these remains was unexpected during the construction of earthworks. Their orientation, densely layered arrangement, and lack of accompanying artefacts suggested a medieval cemetery, even though no church ruins were found, nor were there references to one in historical records.
Even after the excavation, the age of the cemetery remained uncertain, although it seemed medieval. The St. Stephen’s Museum had hoped that radiocarbon testing would provide a timeline for these burials.
The findings of the analysis exceeded all expectations, showing that the individual died between 994 and 1028, with a 95.4% probability, making them a contemporary of King Saint Stephen. This discovery aligns with local folklore recorded by Capuchin friar Wilibald in the late 17th century, claiming that Saint Stephen established a chapel in Bodajk where he and his son, Prince Emeric, prayed. The layout of the burial sites linked to a churchyard suggests that this legendary chapel once stood atop Calvary Hill, although its remains have not been identified.
Further radiocarbon testing and scientific analysis of the skeletal remains may provide more insights into this extraordinary burial site from the early Árpád era. Archaeologist Frigyes Szücsi stated, “At this point, we can confidently say that scientific data appears to validate the thousand-year-old Bodajk tradition regarding the construction of a chapel (church) during the time of King Saint Stephen.”
Bodajk is known as Hungary’s oldest pilgrimage site, with a shrine built on the foundations of Saint Stephen’s original chapel. The village’s revered image was brought from Passau, the birthplace of Saint Stephen’s wife, Queen Gisela.
Pilgrims have long been drawn to the healing spring at the base of Calvary Hill, known as the Well of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. According to legend, Saint Stephen visited the site multiple times and had a chapel built beside the well, which he and Prince Emeric frequently visited.
The history of the site dates back to the Middle Ages when it was maintained by the Knights Templar. It later became a battleground during wars against the Ottoman Turks, with notable defenders including the pious Capuchin Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. The shrine was rebuilt by the Capuchins in 1697, and a new church was completed in 1742, receiving an altar painting from Passau.
The Bodajk shrine’s history is intertwined with Hungary’s first saintly family, showcasing the central role played by King Saint Stephen and Queen Gisela in its construction and development. Today, the Capuchin friars continue to serve pilgrims at the site, maintaining its significance in Hungarian history.
