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When G\\xe1bor Iv\\xe1nyi was a young Protestant minister back in the 1970s standing up to Hungary\\u2019s totalitarian Communist regime he promised to stop shaving as a sign of protest. Communism is long gone in Hungary but Ivanyi\\u2019s beard keeps getting longer. He fought the Communists side by side with the student leader Victor Orban. He supported Orban and even accompanied him spiritually. Ivanyi is godfather to Orban\\u2019s first two children and performed the religious wedding ceremony for Orban. \\n \\nBut now Ivanyi has become the prime minister\\u2019s most redoubtable opponent. For Ivanyi and some other young Hungarian Christians, Orban\\u2019s Christianity means no more than \\u2018white Christian Europe\\u2019. Orban has taken away the state subsidy to Ivanyi\\u2019s church. The Methodist, who runs a shelter for the homeless, gypsies and migrants, was refused access to refugees when he tried to bring them food.\\n \\nOther Christians publicly criticise Hungary\\u2019s interpretation of Christianity. Lutheran blogger D\\xf3ra Laborczih edits an independent blog called Christian Culture which attacks the intrusion of right-wing populism into Hungary\\u2019s religious life.\\n \\nThrough Ivanyi and Dora we hear how Christians in Hungary are divided on issues such as immigration and we hear from Christians who support Orban and his policies.\\n \\nJohn Laurenson travels to Hungary where a bearded pastor with a house full of refugees and a prime minister who has just won his third consecutive general election victory are at war over the meaning of Christianity.

Image: Viktor Orban (Credit: Zoltan Mathe/EPA)