Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Golden Laurel Branch for Shefket Chapardjiev - creator of the first Bulgarian cultural and information centre in Chicago

Photo: Bulgarian Foreign Ministry

The Consul General of Bulgaria in Chicago Ivan Anchev has awarded the Bulgarian entrepreneur and philanthropist Shefket Chapadjiev with the honorary badge "Golden Laurel Branch" - the highest award of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The award is bestowed to him on behalf of Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva for his overall activity in support of Bulgarian citizens in the Chicago area, for his indisputable contribution to the preservation of Bulgarian culture and identity and on the occasion of his 80th anniversary.

Shefket Chapadjiev left Bulgaria illegally in 1963 and a year later settled in Chicago. Known as the wealthiest Bulgarian emigrant abroad, he is the owner of one of the largest printing houses in the US. He is one of the donors to two of the Bulgarian churches in Chicago - Saint Sophia and Saint Ivan the Wonderworker of Rila. In the mid-1990s, he opened with its own funds the first Bulgarian cultural and information centre in Chicago. He also financed the creation of the first Bulgarian-language newspaper in the city called "Bulgaria".




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

European Prosecutor's Office investigates Bulgartransgaz

The European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the offices of Bulgartransgaz in Sofia. Police have secured access to the headquarters of the gas operator. There is no official information from Bulgartransgaz and Brussels about the inspection,..

published on 8/13/24 1:58 PM

Council of Europe wants Bulgaria to lift ban on LGBT propaganda in schools

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty said he was "deeply concerned” by the law passed by the Bulgarian parliament against LGBT "propaganda" in schools and called on President Rumen Radev not to sign it,..

published on 8/13/24 10:16 AM

Bulgarian Schengen visa does not guarantee admission to the area

Bulgaria issues Schengen visas only for short-term stays. By the end of July, their number was over 35,000, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with publications in the media about Schengen..

published on 8/13/24 9:20 AM