• Hungary
    1996 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • Forest Meetings

      In the 1970’s and 1980’s, because of the ban on assembling together, Jehovah’s Witnesses held their meetings in the woods. (Heb. 10:24, 25) These forest meetings were held all over the country from spring till fall. Most Budapest congregations met in the hills surrounding the capital.

      Brother Völgyes remembers: “There was a circular opening in the forest among the hills, about 100 feet [30 meters] across, where the brothers assembled. It was in beautiful surroundings, and its quietness was made happy by the singing of birds. The sky was clear, and the air was filled with the aroma of herbs. It was an ideal place where the praise of our Grand Creator was manifest everywhere.

      “The Theocratic Ministry School and the Service Meeting were regularly conducted there. When it rained, our plastic rain gear protected us. Not only congregation meetings but also assemblies were held there.

      “Out of caution brothers were assigned as watchmen to warn of the approach of anyone suspicious. One day, however, at the end of summer in 1984, in spite of the precautions, plainclothes policemen appeared without warning.

      “The loudspeakers were nailed to the tree trunks. The policemen disapproved of that, claiming that we damaged the trees as we hammered the nails into them. They also had some other environmental objections, for which one brother took the responsibility, so that the others would not be involved.

      “After we had told them that this was a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses, one of the plainclothes policemen inquired why we did not ask permission from the authorities to hold our meetings. ‘Because we would definitely not get permission,’ was our reply. ‘Just try it,’ the policemen suggested.” We did.

      The Ban Is Lifted

      Brothers Völgyes and Oravetz, members of the country committee, met with the higher-ranking officials of the Department of the Interior. They told them about the visit of the policemen and their suggestion to ask for permission to hold meetings. This took place on October 23, 1984. From that time on, congregations all over the country asked for permission to conduct their meetings. Sometimes it was granted.