Zsófia Bosnyák
Encyclopedia
Zsófia Bosnyák was a Hungarian noble and wife of Count Ferenc Wesselényi
.
) and Szendrő
Castles, but the marriage lasted only for a few months (until Serényi's death in March 1626). After the death of her first husband, she returned to Nagysurány to her parents. Later that year, her mother died, and in the following year, she lost her 22-year-old brother. Her father was serving in Fülek Castle at that time, so it was she who dealt with the management of their estate. Soon, she became known by the neighborhood as a generous supporter of the poor and the sick. At the age of 21, as a result of the mediation of cardinal Péter Pázmány
, she married Ferenc Wesselényi
. They lived in the Sztrecsnó (Strečno
) Castle and had two boys, Ádám (1630) and László (1633).
After Bosnyák's father died of cholera in 1634, her husband Ferenc Wesselényi took over the duty of the captain at the Fülek Castle. Wesselényi rarely came home to his family which, in the meantime, moved to Vágtapolca (Teplička nad Váhom
) on account of many attacks against Fülek by Turkish
soldiers. The management of their estate and the care of the children remained the duty of Bosnyák. In Vágtapolca, she took care of the poor, and with her husband, she founded an almshouse in the village which also served as a hospital. People of the neighborhood thought of her as a living saint.
Later Wesselényi had an affair with Mária Széchy, known as the Venus of Murány.
After her second husband's affair, Bosnyák donated even more than before to the poor and at nights, she went to pray in the chapel. According to a legend, she had a vision in which the Virgin Mary appeared and warned her to pray.
Bosnyák died at the age of 35 and was buried in the castle chapel.
of Bosnyák was found which was later transferred to the church of Vágtapolca.
Her final tomb became a place of pilgrimage
. Every year on Assumption Day (15 August), many people from the neighborhood came to visit her glass-covered coffin.
On April 1, 2009, a 31-year-old Slovak
man broke the glass cover of the coffin and lit the mummy on fire after entering the church with a key obtained from a nearby confectioner shop. The mummy has burned to cinder within minutes. The man, who was thought to be suffering from schizophrenia
, was sent to a psychiatric clinic.
Ferenc Wesselényi
Count Ferenc Wesselényi de Hadad et Murány was a Hungarian military commander and the palatine of the Royal Hungary.-Life:...
.
Life
Bosnyák was the daughter of Baron Tamás Bosnyák and Mária Kenderes. At the age of seventeen, she married Mihály Serényi, captain of Fülek (FilakovoFilakovo
Fiľakovo is a town in the Banská Bystrica Region of south-central Slovakia. Historically it was part of the Nógrád region.-Geography:...
) and Szendrő
Szendro
Szendrő is a small town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 40 kilometers from county capital Miskolc.-History:Szendrő was first mentioned in 1317. It was named after its owner Szend. Odly enough, Szendro is a Hungarian last name...
Castles, but the marriage lasted only for a few months (until Serényi's death in March 1626). After the death of her first husband, she returned to Nagysurány to her parents. Later that year, her mother died, and in the following year, she lost her 22-year-old brother. Her father was serving in Fülek Castle at that time, so it was she who dealt with the management of their estate. Soon, she became known by the neighborhood as a generous supporter of the poor and the sick. At the age of 21, as a result of the mediation of cardinal Péter Pázmány
Péter Pázmány
Péter Pázmány de Panasz was a Hungarian philosopher, theologian, catholic cardinal, pulpit orator and statesman. He was an important figure in the Counter-Reformation in Royal Hungary. He worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism in Hungary.His most important legacy was his creation of the...
, she married Ferenc Wesselényi
Ferenc Wesselényi
Count Ferenc Wesselényi de Hadad et Murány was a Hungarian military commander and the palatine of the Royal Hungary.-Life:...
. They lived in the Sztrecsnó (Strečno
Strecno
Strečno is a village and municipality in the Žilina District in the Žilina Region in North Slovakia. It is located by the Váh River in the Malá Fatra Mts...
) Castle and had two boys, Ádám (1630) and László (1633).
After Bosnyák's father died of cholera in 1634, her husband Ferenc Wesselényi took over the duty of the captain at the Fülek Castle. Wesselényi rarely came home to his family which, in the meantime, moved to Vágtapolca (Teplička nad Váhom
Teplicka nad Váhom
Teplička nad Váhom is a village and municipality in Žilina District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia.-History:In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1267...
) on account of many attacks against Fülek by Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
soldiers. The management of their estate and the care of the children remained the duty of Bosnyák. In Vágtapolca, she took care of the poor, and with her husband, she founded an almshouse in the village which also served as a hospital. People of the neighborhood thought of her as a living saint.
Later Wesselényi had an affair with Mária Széchy, known as the Venus of Murány.
After her second husband's affair, Bosnyák donated even more than before to the poor and at nights, she went to pray in the chapel. According to a legend, she had a vision in which the Virgin Mary appeared and warned her to pray.
Bosnyák died at the age of 35 and was buried in the castle chapel.
Remains
In 1689, the castle changed hands, and the new owner decided to transfer the remains of the Wesselényi family members who were buried in the castle. During the transfer, the mummified bodyMummy
A mummy is a body, human or animal, whose skin and organs have been preserved by either intentional or incidental exposure to chemicals, extreme coldness , very low humidity, or lack of air when bodies are submerged in bogs, so that the recovered body will not decay further if kept in cool and dry...
of Bosnyák was found which was later transferred to the church of Vágtapolca.
Her final tomb became a place of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
. Every year on Assumption Day (15 August), many people from the neighborhood came to visit her glass-covered coffin.
On April 1, 2009, a 31-year-old Slovak
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
man broke the glass cover of the coffin and lit the mummy on fire after entering the church with a key obtained from a nearby confectioner shop. The mummy has burned to cinder within minutes. The man, who was thought to be suffering from schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, was sent to a psychiatric clinic.
External sources
- Zsófia Bosnyák, lady of the Sztrecsnó Castle, was thought to be a saint already in her life (in Hungarian) Kitekintő / Új Szó, 2009. április 23.
- The mummy of Zsófia Bosnyák was burnt to ashes - a man put it to fire (in Hungarian)
- http://www.tankonyvtar.hu/szepirodalom/marssal-tarsalkodo-080905-6