Ildikó Várhalmi, an active helper of the Saving the Future Foundation, received the Chaplain of Peace appointment on February 3, 2024, in recognition of her humanitarian activities at the Palmira City Hall in Colombia. The award was presented by Mr. Roberto Carlos Acuna, the national director of the Chaplains of Peace organization in Colombia.
What makes this appointment interesting is that the Chaplains of Peace is an international organization linked to Saint Martin, who lived in the 4th century and was born in an area what is now Hungary.
Saint Martin was renowned for his generosity and charity, and he is credited with founding the first military chaplaincy service. Today, the Chaplains of Peace organization is involved in peace and humanitarian services and has a profound impact on those in need.
THE HISTORY OF CHAPLAINCY
The history of chaplaincy dates back millennia. Records show that in Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, chaplains offered emotional and spiritual guidance to emperors, soldiers, and members of the aristocracy, helping them find peace through their teachings and advice.
Its origin traces back to Saint Martin, Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier born in 316 AD in the area that is now Hungary. At the age of 16, he joined the Roman army, where he excelled both as a soldier and as an officer.
At the age of 24, Martin and his troops were sent to France. One very cold night, he encountered a beggar who desperately asked for help, shivering in the cold. With a kind heart, Martin tore his military cloak in half and gave one part to the beggar to warm him. Through this act, Martin demonstrated his love and selflessness towards the beggar.
That same night, he dreamed that the beggar was the Lord Jesus Christ, and this dream was the reason he converted to Christianity and was later baptized.
This event had a significant impact on him, and he eventually withdrew from military life to dedicate himself fully to divine service. The story is a famous example of the practice of mercy and the importance of selfless acts.
He shared his testimony with others, and by following his example, many embraced the Christian faith.