Szombathelyi Egyházmegye

Szécshenyi 2020 - Európai Szociális Alap

Szombathely - The Diocese Library


The Diocese Library


Bishop Szily offered his private collection of books for the Cathedral in 1791. He designated the place for them to be the building of the Seminar and not the church. The collection then was placed on the second floor so not only seminarists and their teachers but the local civilians could also make use of it. The terms of the use of the library only allowed use on the spot. This way the first bibliotheca of the town was born, where a monk-librarian ensured the services.

Fresco embellishments by István Dorffmaister decorate the ceilings of the library and the readers’ room. On the ceiling of the bigger room you can discover the figures of the
four great western Fathers of the Church: Pope Great Saint Gregory, Pope Saint Augustine,
Pope Saint Ambrose and Pope Saint Jerome.

The name and function of the building has changed meanwhile, today it is the Diocese Dormitory. The name of the library has also been modified several times, the adjunct Cathedral was replaced by the Seminar, today it is known as the Diocese Library. In 1884 during Kornél Hidasy’s episcopacy the small library placed in the Dorffmaister hall could not hold the ever growing collection, so a new, baroque style room was created in the place of the present one on the first floor. At the same time the building of the Seminar was also enlarged. Ferenc Storno and his son were in charge of painting the big hall with the loft (1885).

On the ceiling the most appropriate personalities were painted: Socrates, Saint Paul Apostle, Pope Great Saint Gregory and Moses. The most precious parts of the collection are
16 codices of the Middle Ages and 96 incunabula, which were purchased by Szily. Some old prints, manuscripts and unique copies make the library generous, which prides itself on a detailed collection of periodicals and a unique special collection called Herzan Library as well.