Saint Stephen, the first King of Hungary, offered his crown
to the Virgin Mary in 1038 to place his country under her protection. 
This act created the Regnum Marianum (Kingdom of Mary) tradition
and inspired famous works of art

20 August - Saint Stephen, the founding king of Hungary, and the celebration of the end of the harvest and the new bread. He was the first king of Hungary from 1000 until his death in 1038. Stephen established at least one archbishopric, six bishoprics and three Benedictine monasteries, leading the Church in Hungary to develop independently from the archbishops of the Holy Roman Empire. He encouraged the spread of Christianity by meting out severe punishments for ignoring Christian customs. King Stephen I of Hungary was canonised on 20 August 1083 with the permission of Pope Gregory VII, following an initiative by the Church during the reign of Saint Ladislaus, in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. According to tradition, the first loaf of bread made from new wheat was baked on St. Stephen's Day after the harvest. Since the first baking of new wheat was in August, this month is also known as the month of new bread.

 

The priest blesses the new bread in the chapel of the St. Elizabeth Home
of the Alexian Mission in Hungary

 

 

Brother Leo offers the new bread blessed during the mass
to the residents of the nursing home

 

 

Brother Barry in front of the Holy Right (the mummified hand of our founding

King Saint Stephen) in St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest