Video by Spark & Foster Films
www.sparkandfoster.com

Dr. Robert Kokenyesi is a translator and researcher of unitarian history. He is the operator of the Unitarian Torch website, where he records the history of the Transylvanian Unitarian tradition. He has worked diligently as a translator at the Unitarian Churches of First Parish in New Bedford, MA and Elliot Chapel in Kirkwood, MO. His publications have recently included a translation of late 16th century sermons from early Transylvanian Unitarian leadership. Dr. Kokenyesi has a Ph.D in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Miami.

Organization of the Hungarian Unitarian Church:
• It is a staterecognized religious organization both in Romania and in Hungary.
• It is led by an elected bishop (currently Kovács István) and a group of lay elders.
• Its headquarters are located in Kolozsvár (ClujNapoca) in Romania.
• There are 126 Hungarian Unitarian churches in Romania, organized into six districts.
• There are 10 Hungarian Unitarian churches in Hungary, organized into one district.

Below are some of Dr. Kokenyesi's translations of early Transylvanian Unitarian sermons:

"As the life stories of prophets and saints demonstrate, it was dangerous and frightening to believe in the truth from the very beginning. Similarly, during the time of the New Testament, Nicodemus didn’t dare to visit Jesus during the day. In John 12 (John 12:42), we see that: 'Nevertheless even among the rulers, many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.' Even after the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostles were forced to stay in the same house because they feared the Jews, as John the Baptist stated (John 20:19). All these fears were to benefit the faithful not to harm them. That’s because by our human nature we become sluggish, careless, and forgetful when we have no fear. Let us remember what Solomon said (Proverbs 30:89): 'Give me no riches, lest I be full and deny thee.' He allows the faithful to live amid fear and trepidation because He wants them to be careful, industrious, and of sound mind.'"
Concio, XCIV (Sermon 94); ; based on Luke 12:32 (KJV) “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

"If we consider history from the creation of the world to our current time, we can clearly see that God’s followers were fewer in number than the sons of Belial; the righteous people were fewer in number than the wicked; the pious people were fewer in number than the villains. Also, at the beginning of the world, there were four people, but only one was innocent, Abel. Cain was wicked, and Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command. After that, we could only find Noah in the entire world. After the great flood, only Abraham was true on the entire planet. In Sodom, only Lot was true. Even if I don’t list more examples from the Old Testament, we can easily make an enumeration from the writings of the Evangelists who were the true sons of God and the true Godfearing people at the time of our Lord Christ. No wonder he calls His followers 'little flock.' Why do Catholics brag about their denomination by calling it catholica, meaning it is established and recognized throughout the world? Even in the days of the prophet Elijah, the priests of Baal numbered four hundred and fifty (1 Kings 18:22), but there was just one prophet of God, Elijah. The false prophets who prophesized lies for Ahab (1 Kings 22:16) numbered four hundred, while there was only one truthtelling prophet, Micaiah. Thus, a large number of followers doesn’t make a faith true, and a small number of followers doesn’t make a faith false. A further example of this, from earlier books of the Bible, is when the angel tells Esdras: 'The most High had made this world for many, but the world to come for few . . . There be many created, but few shall be saved.' (2 Esd 8:1,3). Our Lord Christ said this in Luke 13:24 when asked if only a few would be saved: 'Strive to enter through the narrow door,' and also in Matthew 7:13: 'Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.'"
Concio, XCIV (Sermon 94); based on Luke 12:32 (KJV) “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”