Ferenc Sámuel Stromszky

* July 13, 1792 Bazin – † July 20, 1861 Bratislava / Augustinian Lutheran superintendent, bishop. ; ; His father, Sámuel Stromszky, was a citizen and butcher of Bazin, his mother was born Teréz Staminger. He studied in Bazin until his confirmation (1805), then he was sent to the Hungarian grammar school in Győr. Here he fell seriously ill with a nervous fever, but soon recovered, so that he was able to successfully finish the school year. Only when he returned home did the pastor Richter of Bazin tell him what a great loss he had suffered during that time. His father had traveled to Győr to care for his sick son. However, when he saw that he was better, he set off home, fell ill with a nervous fever on the way and died. ; As a fatherless orphan, he became even more attached to his caregiver and advisor, pastor Richter. He ensured that he could continue his education in Bratislava, and with his excellent talent he was able to graduate with flying colors in 1812. He then worked as a tutor for a few years in the county of Trenčín and in Styria, until in the spring of 1815 he was able to enter the University of Tübingen. He returned home in the autumn of the following year, and after being ordained by Superintendent Wächter in Vienna, he went to Brünn as a vicar. A year later he was called to Lemberg as a deacon, and in this capacity he also had to serve the German colonies of the Meiow estate. ; On July 12, 1823, he became a pastor in Hillersdorf in Silesia, where he spent four happy but very busy years. When he visited his homeland in 1827, he took the oath of his brother-in-law, the priest of Szent-György Filitzky. The Bratislavans present at the swearing-in, pastor Biermann and Mátyás Habermayer, liked Stromszky's speech so much that they asked him to come to Bratislava and preach there during the parliament. ; Soon after, he was invited to Rajka in Mosonmagyeo, where he succeeded pastor Lackner, who had been unlucky in the fire, on November 4, 1827. Two years later, the Bratislava congregation elected him. He gave his welcoming speech on October 18, 1829. In this position, he quickly won the general trust that after the death of Pál Bilnitza, he was elected superintendent of the Dunáninnen district by a large majority. He was solemnly installed in his new office on July 15, 1835. (The speeches given on this occasion were published in a separate booklet "Solennia inaugorationis... Francisci Samuelis Stromszky" Bratislava 1835. Belnay's heirs.) But he only held this dignity for three lustrums, because he had to resign on February 19, 1850, accused of participating in the freedom struggle movements. ; At that time, he devoted all his strength to the care of his congregation, which from then on respected him as its superior and elected him dean. He achieved great merit in the work of maintaining and reorganizing the lyceum. He traveled to Germany several times, and through his intercession, he covered the costs of two theological departments of the Gustav Adolf Society, and he himself taught. (L. Markusovszky: History of the Pozsony branch of the ev. lyceum, 488 and ff. 1.) ; When the Protestant churches of Hungary regained their legal freedom in 1860, Stromszky became superintendent again on July 12. However, illness forced him to resign the following year. He died on July 20, 1861. At his coffin, the deacon of Hollerung Modor and his old colleague Raabe spoke. ; He had been married since May 15, 1820, his wife was the daughter of his father's friend, pastor Richter of Bazini, named Erzsébet. Seven sons and two daughters were born from this marriage. His eldest son, Adolf, fell in the War of Independence, and his sensitive father mourned him all his life. ; Stromszky was basically a kind, kind man, but when it came to the rights of the church, he was unyieldingly firm. This character trait gave him a leading role in the struggles of his time, in which he took part in speech and writing. By his theological orientation, he belonged to rationalism, his speeches were emotional and oratorical, but he never spoke against the salvations, but rather stuck to the parenthetical interpretation of the basic word. In the spirit of this moderate rationalism, he compiled the congregation's 1845 (second rationalist) hymnbook, which was in use for half a century. ; ; Among his published works, we mention: ; - Festive sermons delivered in Hillersdorf ("Festpredigten, gehalten vor der evang. Gemeinde zu Hillersdorf"), Brünn 1828 ; - Welcome sermon in Bratislava ("Antrittspredibt gehalten am XVIII. Trin.-Sonntag"), Bratislava 1829 ; - On the 300th anniversary of the handover of the Augustinian Creed ("Predigt am III. Jubelfeste der Übergabe der Augsb. Konfession"), Bratislava 1830 ; - Church speeches ("Uns ist bange, aber wir verzagen nicht") Bratislava 1831; - "Die würdige Freude über die Rettung Seiner Majestät, unsers teurn jüngern Königs" Bratislava 1832; - On the patriotism of the Christian ("Christliche Vaterlandsliebe"), Bratislava 1834; - eulogy delivered in memory of King Franz ("Trauer-Predigt bei der Gedächtnisfeier Sr. Höchstseliger Majestät des Kaisers und Königs Franz des - Ersten in Gegenwart des Erzherzogs Reichspalatins und der Reichspalatins und der Reichsbarone, Magnaten und Ileichsstände gehalten") Bratislava 1835; - On the benefits of poor houses ("Der Wert und Segen wohleingerichteter Armen-Anstalten") Bratislava 1835; - Speech delivered at the inauguration of the new organ and renovated church. Bratislava 1839; - Jesus Christus in den Tagen seiner irdischen Vollendung. Ein Passionsbüchlein für denkgläubige evang. Christen") Bratislava 1840; - Speech delivered at the inauguration of the new altarpiece, Bratislava 1842; - Speech delivered on the tercentenary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther, Bratislava 1846; Speech delivered on the 50th anniversary of the Palatine's service and on the celebration of his fortunate recovery ("Unser Freuden und unser Trauerfest." booklet) Bratislava 1847; - On the celebration of the laying of the foundation stone of the new lyceum ("Feier der Grundsteinlel,ung" in booklet) Bratislava 1855.