Despite growing international interest in Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity, detailed English-language studies on the movement’s history in Hungary remain scarce. Existing sources are predominantly published by the denominations themselves and tend to focus on internal narratives of faith and growth. To date, no comprehensive academic account in English has traced the development of Hungarian Pentecostalism from its emergence through the decades of state socialism to the post-communist era. This paper addresses that gap by examining the history of Pentecostal–Charismatic Christianity in Hungary, with particular attention to its trajectory under communist rule and its transformation after 1989.
The study explores the movement’s early roots in the late 1910s and 1920s, when returning prisoners of war from Russia and emigrants from the United States began sharing Pentecostal beliefs within their communities. Without formal missionary strategies, these early believers organised spontaneous prayer meetings, which laid the groundwork for the formation of independent congregations—many composed of former Baptists excommunicated after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The paper focuses particularly on the challenges faced by Pentecostal and Charismatic communities during the period of communist rule (1945–1989), including state surveillance, legal restrictions, and theological marginalisation. It further explores how these churches contributed to the democratic transition and responded to the political and social changes of the post-1989 period. Particular attention is paid to how Pentecostal groups navigated the opportunities and uncertainties of the shift to a capitalist society, including their approaches to public engagement, institutional development, and media presence. The study also examines why some Pentecostal and Charismatic communities experienced more significant growth than others, both during the communist era and in the decades that followed.
Drawing on archival documents, oral history interviews, and relevant Hungarian-language scholarship, this paper offers an in-depth historical analysis of Pentecostal–Charismatic Christianity in Hungary. In doing so, it provides fresh insight into the complex relationship between religion, politics, and social transformation in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe.