The Case of Sándor Joó. The Fate of A Pastor in the Light of State Security Documents

Sándor Joó (1910-1970) was a well-known pastor of the Reformed Church of Hungary. He managed to develop an affiliate into a full-right parish in one of the well-to-do districts of Budapest and built a new church for his parish as well. Reverend Joó up to date is one of the most read religious authors. He took some part in the anti-Nazi resistance, provided proofs of babtism for those who turned to his parish and offered shelter to some notable leftist politicians as well. Nonetheless, after the war he became a target of the Communist State Security. In my paper, I would like to focus on his case after the 1956 revolution. How should we approach the state security files? What were the methods of the state security to „manage reality”? What were their preconceptions? And finally, what is the meaning of „informer”?