St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the most beautiful neo-classical buildings of Budapest, is home to an interesting piece of folklore involving a statue of the Madonna. The basilica, which stands at an impressive 96 meters tall, is dedicated to Hungary’s first king, St. Stephen but the captivating tale revolves around a much lesser known figure. In the 1800s, a furious fire swept through the town, reducing everything to destructive embers. The townspeople were in dismay, expecting the worst when they thought of St. Stephen’s Basilica, their adored spiritual icon. Yet, when the incandescent flames died down, a statue of the Madonna was found unscathed amongst the charred rubble. Everything else inside the cathedral had been scorched by the fiery tongues of the blaze, everything except the Madonna. The statue was glowing but not from the fire, rather it seemed to be radiating with its inner light. Word of the miraculous Madonna quickly spread throughout the townsfolk, establishing a revered yore that drew believers from near and afar. Some say the Madonna’s immunity to the fire was nothing short of a divine intervention, a sign from the heavens above to bolster the faith of the people. Others see it as a symbol of endurance, representing the spirit of the Hungarian people and the city of Budapest that have withstood various foreign occupations and world wars, yet remained standing, much like the resilient Madonna. The statue’s mystical allure continues to live on, drawing crowds who wish to witness the divine Madonna that survived a deadly inferno.