A family and a child: this is the Christmas wish of Kristian Krastev, former Minister of Transport in the caretaker cabinet of Marin Raikov. His CV abounds in top managerial positions including CEO of Burgas Airport and the Port of Varna. Krastev has also been active in private business and has laid the foundations in Bulgaria of one of the low-cost airlines. Now this young and ambitious man has become the talk of town with his spiritual quests. Recently Kristian Krastev has become a hypo-deacon.

He says more about the decision to turn to religion:

"This step is an act of humility, of seeking balance between the secular and spiritual values. This is also the moment to shake off the robes of secular leadership and put on the robes of the apprentice, the candle-carrier, the reader, the chant singer, the one who assists church service. This is the lowest level of church service, and contrary to various speculations, I do not intend to seek higher positions in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.”

Kristian Krastev explains that for him God is love and that faith is a deeply private matter. His family has played a role in cultivating openness to Christian values in him. He tells us that his great grandfather was a churchwarden, and both his uncle and his sister are theologians. „In the recent years I have increasingly been meeting with soulful people, and I do not mean just priests. This has helped me develop my faith and decide on this step.”

His answer to the common fallacy that faith is for the weak is as follows: 

"I would say that it is strong people that rely on faith. They are able to act with humility in the face of life's hardships, while any carnal or material temptation may harm them. When man is mature enough for humility and once he has defeated his ego, only then he is truly himself. It is then that he begins to create and to be different. Yes, we are often fingered at, and misunderstood, because living with Christian faith is not widespread in 21 c.”

Kristian Krastev believes that the Church shall have to play a more active role in society. This mission is mirrored in the fact that newly elected bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church are younger than the general rule. Being younger, they have a better grasp of the problems and aspirations of the active generations. Is there a place for Christian principles in political affairs?

"Unscrupulous politics is only short-term and often leads to nowhere. On the other hand, there are politicians who mean to do good and they are men and women of principle. I am aware that compromise is important in politics but compromise is for the sake of a better future. In this sense, yes, I think that the spiritual realm is not foreign to political affairs.”

Kristian Krastev contends that while he was a cabinet minister he did not compromise on his personal convictions. Asked about his career plans in either business or politics he says:

"I haven't left politics completely: I have always been active in public life, and have tried to be useful to others. Well, of course, I also run a business but this is no obstacle for my spiritual quests.”

Kristian Krastev points to a circle of things that matter most in life: love, family, respect for others and faith in God. No wonder then that he always joins his family for the great feast of the Nativity of Christ.

"The family gathers for a rare moment of exchanging thoughts and emotions. It is a way to make up for the time we have not been together, I believe in the family and on Christmas I call on people to safeguard the family because it is God's realm. We can see that one in two families falls apart especially younger ones. The ego is strong, and personal interest gains the upper hand. This harms the whole of society. Please, do have tolerance for each other, have more humility, try to play down your egos. Believe in small things and enjoy them. After all, life is indecently short, so let us not miss the beautiful moments!“

English Daniela Konstantinova