Banat Germans Begin Diocese Jubilee Countdown
The Banat Swabian community is preparing for a historic milestone — the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Timisoara (originally Csanád) Diocese in 2030. Beginning in 2025, annual events will mark the lead-up to this grand jubilee, CE Report quotes Agerpres
From June 13 to 15, Timisoara is hosting the 17th edition of the Banat German Cultural Days, featuring traditional music, dance, gastronomy, exhibitions, and performances celebrating the region’s German heritage.
Festivities opened with the exhibition Millennium Csanadiense 1030–2030 at the city's Dome, highlighting the legacy of Saint Gerard, the diocese’s spiritual patron and a martyr canonized in 1803. The exhibition will travel to Szeged (Hungary) and Zrenjanin (Serbia), reflecting the historical reach of the Csanád Diocese, now divided among three countries.
Bishop Emeritus Martin Roos emphasized the importance of sharing this millennium of Christian history with both clergy and laypeople. The exhibit, covering the first 500 years up to the Ottoman conquest in 1552, is presented in four languages: Romanian, German, Hungarian, and Serbian.
Events also include tributes to poet Nikolaus Lenau, concerts, and the opening of 110 Years of Banat Aviation History. A highlight will be Sunday’s folk costume parade and Pontifical Mass in the Dome Square.
This year’s celebration kicks off a five-stage historical journey culminating in 2030, honoring one of Central Europe’s oldest dioceses.
