“At Christmas, light doesn’t fight – it triumphs.”
Edited by Anna Popper
For centuries, Advent has heralded the Christian Church’s season of quiet expectancy, hope, and inner preparation, opening the liturgical year. Originating in early Christian tradition, it mirrors humanity’s persistent longing for light amidst the darkness and leads hearts to the mystery of the Nativity (Christ’s birth), where the divine promise is fulfilled.
That spirit was palpable on 12 December 2025 in St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, where the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Hungary welcomed guests to its grand annual Advent Concert.
One of Budapest’s best-known landmarks – dedicated to Hungary’s first king and founder of the nation – St. Stephen’s Basilica is steeped in history and spiritual significance. It houses the revered relic of King St. Stephen’s Holy Right Hand. A striking white marble statue of St. Stephen greets visitors at the main altar. With its neoclassical architecture, majestic interior, and excellent acoustics, the Basilica is not only a sacred place of worship but also a space for cultural expression, where music and art uplift the human spirit.
In 2025, we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the consecration of St. Stephen’s Basilica.
After more than 50 years of construction under the direction of three Hungarian architects, the Basilica was consecrated on 19 November 1905, although the closing stone was laid only in 1906 in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
Just outside the Basilica, St. Stephen’s Square becomes especially magical in winter: one of the city’s most beautiful Christmas markets takes place here, and the Basilica’s façade turns into a living canvas – light-painted with story-like projections that bring the season and the building itself vividly to life.
Held in the second week of Advent, the Croatian Advent Mass and Concert – set against the grandeur of this extraordinary basilica – echoed the spirit of the season: joy, love, and peace, cherished for nearly two millennia.
The event began with a Holy Mass in Croatian and Hungarian, symbolizing the unity of faith and culture and bridging nations through shared history and traditions. The solemn Mass was celebrated by Bishops Vjekoslav Huzjak, Gábor Mohos, and Egidije Živković, in the presence of an international audience.
It continued by the long-anticipated Advent Concert of Pax et Bonum, which filled the Basilica to capacity with esteemed guests invited by His Excellency Dr. Mladen Andrlić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Hungary. Attendees included ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps in Hungary, Hungarian officials, business leaders, and representatives of cultural, academic, and religious institutions, alongside the Croatian community and friends of Croatia.
Ambassador Dr. Mladen Andrlić addressed the audience with warm holiday greetings and reflected on the Embassy’s collaboration with St. Stephen’s Basilica, which began in 2023.
He emphasized the importance of this outstanding initiative, which has since become a tradition, and also noted that the bilingual Croatian–Hungarian Holy Mass offered a meaningful contribution to Budapest’s Advent celebrations, reflecting the enduring human longing for hope, harmony, and serenity – and, above all, love.
The concert of the Croatian Choir, performed by 50 choir members, was a unique and memorable experience. Under the direction of the dynamic and devoted conductor Ivo Šeparović, the ensemble presented not only Christmas music but also a rich selection of Croatian and international works. Their vocal excellence and evident joy of the male and female singers won the hearts of the audience, who responded with resounding applause.
The international choir “Pax et Bonum”, formed by Burgenland Croats from Austria, marked the 10th anniversary of its founding in June 2025. Its members – who belong to Croatian minority communities in several countries – strongly preserve their identity and carry it far beyond the borders of their homeland. Today, the choir comprises 130 singers and performs under the artistic direction of Ivo Šeparović. In recognition of his long-standing work and achievements, Bishop Msgr. Egidije Živković awarded Ivo Šeparović the Golden Decoration of the Diocese of Eisenstadt.
“The very name of the choir indicates that it belongs in every church, every cathedral. It was a special honour for us to represent ourselves in the major cathedral of Hungary. Our members come from five countries: Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the concert, we presented a varied repertoire of Christmas songs, Dalmatian and Croatian traditional music. I brought my temperament from my island of Korčula, and I carry this concept of living – that not everything has to fit into strict frameworks, especially not music,” said Ivo Šeparović, artistic director and conductor of the choir.
The choir Pax et Bonum is the voice of the international association of Burgenland Croats – the Burgenland Croatian Society Hrvat S.A.M. and the Diocese of Eisenstadt, Austria.
The choir’s performance in Budapest, which once again demonstrated how dedication and continuity help preserve one’s roots – even while living abroad – was supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.
Source: Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Budapest, Neda Maretic
Photos from the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Budapest, Neda Maretic
