1520?

Francis David was born around this time, the son of a Magyar (Russian) mother and a Saxon (German) father. His early education took place at the school of the Franciscan friars. Later he attended the cathedral school in Gyulafehervar (Alba Iulia). In 1545 he traveled to Germany where he attended the University of Wittenberg.

1555

Francis David became rector of a Lutheran school and minister of a Lutheran congregation.

1556

Francis David was appointed superintendent of the Hungarian-speaking Lutheran churches.

1566

January 1566

Francis David preached his first Unitarian sermon in the main church, and soon began publicly debating with the trinitarian Protestants.

1578

Faustus Socinus arrived here from Basel, Switzerland, at the invitation of Giorgio Biandrata. He stayed at Francis David's house, and for 4 months the 2 men debated points of doctrine.

1594

August 1594

Prince Sigismund, only 23 years old and under the influence of the Jesuits, invited the members of the diet to attend church with him. Once assembled, the group was surrounded by soldiers; 13 were placed under arrest. The next day 5 of the 13, all Unitarians, were charged with conspiracy and beheaded in the city's marketplace. Four others were privately strangled. The rest were banished from the country. Thus began nearly 200 years of persecution for the Transylvanian Unitarians.

1661

About 200 Socinian refugees from Poland arrived here, where they were welcomed by the Transylvanian Unitarians. Many of the refugees were sick from their travels and fell victim to the plague and other illnesses. Only about 30 survived. Other refugees from Poland followed, however, and eventually 4 Polish-speaking congregations were formed.

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