A Bulgarian Orthodox church, honouring St. John of Rila, will be built in London on the spot where there now is a chapel on the territory of the Bulgarian embassy.

At an event organized by the Bulgarian embassy, which brought together members of the Bulgarian community living in the UK, ambassador Marin Raykov presented the project and gave the official start to the fund-raising campaign for the construction of the church. The event was attended by Metropolitan Anthony of Central and Western Europe and Father Dobromir who conducts services at the chapel.

In the words of Ambassador Raykov, the design of the church is classical, resembling the architecture of the old Bulgarian churches – like the churches in Pliska, Preslav, Veliko Turnovo and Serdica. And though the St. John of Rila will be on the territory of the embassy, permission from the London authorities was needed. And it was given as a result of the efforts of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission and the architect of the church.

“The design by a really talented Italian architect, was approved by the Westminster City Council, which was by no means an easy thing. The church is going to be in the very centre of London. There are no other Orthodox churches around here, this will be the only one,” Ambassador Raykov said in an interview with the BNR’s correspondent in London Veselin Paunov.

Architect of the Bulgarian church St. John of Rila is architect Carlo Bughi from Puglia, Italy, well known for his penchant for Orthodoxy and Orthodox architecture. One of the difficult tasks he had was how to comply with the requirements of keeping the cultural appearance of the area on the outside, while meeting the requirements of Orthodox canon inside the church.

“It was an enormous challenge for the architect, for the builders, for everyone,” Metropolitan Anthony said, and went on to thank “all Bulgarians who will be part of this project and will put a piece of their hearts into this building.”

“The aim of this fund-raising campaign was most of all to bring together the Bulgarians in the UK, to help them feel this historic event with their hearts, because for 30 years Bulgarians have been using the embassy chapel but will from now on be able to go to a spacious church that meets all interior design requirements of an Orthodox temple,” Metropolitan Anthony said.

So far around EUR 400,000 has been raised. Some of the money comes from the Bulgarian embassy, the rest was donated. However, it is not enough. That is why Father Dobromir says:

“I urge Bulgarians in London and in the UK, why not in Bulgaria too, to help this good cause that has brought us together. Because the church is the only place in this world – in politics we are divided, in society too, and the church is the only one that can bring us together. Whatever your political beliefs, gender, education, we are always together in church. This is a very good Bulgarian initiative in London.”

Reporting by Veselin Paunov, BNR correspondent in London

Text: Miglena Ivanova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos: BTA, BNR