For a month now, a clergyman from the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been taking care of the Bulgarian municipality in Istanbul. After a long service, the former priest returned to Bulgaria and another clergyman was appointed in his place by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The tradition of the Bulgarian municipality in Istanbul to select a Bulgarian clergyman, who is then appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, has been broken. For decades, the selection had been carried out in the spirit of mutual understanding with the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
Bulgarians in Istanbul expect an official statement from the Holy Synod. We insist on keeping the tradition! We want a priest from Bulgaria with the blessing and approval of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Hristo Kopano, a member of the Bulgarian Board of Trustees, told BNR.
In today’s world, where material values overshadow the spiritual, reflections on the salvation of souls somehow remain in the background. The constant race against time and the stream of daily tasks muffle the voice of the soul, which struggles to..
In 1018, after half a century of struggle, the First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantium. Despite the many uprisings of the Bulgarians, the power of Constantinople lasted for nearly two centuries. In the autumn of 1185 or the..
On 19 October, Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski, also known as St John of Rila, who is considered the country’s heavenly protector. He founded the Rila Monastery, which is the largest and most influential spiritual centre in Bulgaria. Ivan..
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