The gesture aims at acknowledging Hungary’s role in protecting Christianity as well as the contributions of the Hungarian community in Brazil to the country’s development.

“This project greatly advances the strengthening of our country’s image and it increases our visibility,” the ministry said in a statement. Dom Orani Tempesta, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, had offered to carry out the lighting project on the occasion of a Hungarian national holiday each year, when he met Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén in October.

This year, the occasion chosen is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the crowning of the last Hungarian king, the beatified Charles IV.

In 2017, the proposed Hungarian national day to be commemorated this way is August 20th, St Stephen’s Day and the Day of Statehood, the statement added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.