The German edition of the codex catalog entitled "Codices of the Library of the Primatial Archdiocese of Esztergom, the Simor Archdiocesan Library, and the City Library" has been prepared by the ELKH-OSZK Fragmenta et Codices Research Group. The volume, published by the Library of the Primatial Archdiocese of Esztergom, Akadémiai Kiadó, and the National Széchényi Library, is a scholarly descriptive catalog of significant codices preserved in the extensive book collections of present-day Esztergom. The authors of this meticulously crafted work are Kinga Körmendy, Judit Lauf, Edit Madas, and Gábor Sarbak, with András Vizkelety providing the translation and Edit Madas serving as the editor of the volume. A presentation event for the Hungarian edition, published in 2021, and the new German edition was held on February 20, 2023, at the National Széchényi Library, where the research group is also based.
During the event, Kornél Szovák, the director of the Gyula Moravcsik Institute at the ELKH Research Centre for the Humanities praised the catalog for not only meeting the highest scientific standards but also for developing the Hungarian scientific terminology of codicology and being highly readable. He emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the catalog, as until now no handbook has been available in Hungarian that has made the descriptions of the codices accessible to research in the language, as Latin and later German had been the primary languages of these works..
In his welcoming address, Dávid Rózsa, the Director-General of the National Széchényi Library, highlighted the substantial endeavors of the research group towards raising the profile of medieval Hungarian writing and book culture. The codex catalog now also available in German, draws attention to the previously unseen treasures of the three Esztergom libraries, placing them on the horizon of Hungarian and international scholarly discourse.
The National Széchényi Library is a key player in the ongoing innovation in the cultural sector, and the government provides the necessary support for its valuable work of preserving and creating cultural heritage, as emphasized by Magdolna Závogyán, Secretary of State for Culture at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. She further highlighted that the Esztergom codex catalog serves as a fine example of how national treasures can be made accessible to present and future researchers. The true worth of the volume lies in the profound care, admiration and pride that the joint research team of ELKH and the National Széchényi Library approached the treasures, which serve as the cornerstone of the catalgog.
In his remarks, Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, highlighted that this highly precise and comprehensive, expertly crafted and elaborate codex catalog is the fruit of fifteen years of diligent research. He added that no one could have accomplished this task more adeptly than the members of the Fragmenta et Codices Research Group, whose work is of world-class caliber.
Academician Edit Madas conveyed the research group's deep appreciation for the invaluable support provided by the National Széchényi Library and ELKH. With emphasis, she highlighted the exceptional work of András Vizkelety in translating the volume to German, noting that it is much more than a mere translation, but rather an adaptation that surpasses all expectations.