On Easter 2026, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, an incident took place in Bölön that caused deep concern and indignation within the Hungarian community of Transylvania. On the first day of Easter, while the local community was celebrating in a spirit of devotion, members of the group known as Calea Neamului marched through the village streets, waving flags and shouting, accompanied by inflammatory, provocative, and intimidating statements. These actions not only violated the dignity of the holiday but also directly affected the sense of security of the local Hungarian community.
“Sound human judgment and behavior, along with all moral norms, were overridden by what took place in Bölön,” said Kozma Albert, Reformed pastor of Bölön, who drew attention to the events on his social media page.
Regarding the historical claims voiced during the march, the pastor stated: “Anyone who is not familiar with our region and reads these narratives would think that the Romanian population here had been subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment for centuries, that Hungarians had plundered innocent Romanians and even taken their churches. These are mythical, fabricated stories that contradict what archival research—based on Latin, German, and Hungarian documents—has established about the history of Bölön.”
It is particularly concerning that the name of Orthodox priest Ovidiu Anastazie Gaitean also emerged in connection with the events. However, consultations made it clear that he was not responsible for the statements made during the march, and he reaffirmed that different ethnic communities in Bölön have lived peacefully alongside each other. At the same time, this clearly shows how easily the names and authority of religious figures can be misused to spread narratives that lack any factual basis.
These events go beyond an isolated case. This is not the first such manifestation by this organization in the region, and unfortunately, such actions have often gone without consequences from state authorities. It is well known that the Calea Neamului group, which organized this provocative event, was also behind the serious incidents related to the military cemetery in the Uz Valley.
The Mikó Imre Legal Protection Service has reported the case to the Anti-Discrimination Council and strongly condemns the disruption of a community’s religious holiday in such a manner.
“A clear line must be drawn against all forms of incitement and hate speech. I find it deeply shocking that even Easter is no longer respected by certain Romanian extremist organizations—this is a new red line,” said Erika Benkő, head of the Mikó Imre Legal Protection Service.
In Bölön, communities have lived peacefully alongside each other until now. This peace must be preserved. Common sense, mutual respect, and responsible public conduct are not optional—they are fundamental requirements in a civilized society.