Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Remembering Father Alexander: Guardian of the Bulgarian Temples and the Spirit in Edirne

Vice-President inaugurates bas-relief of the priest one year after his death

Edirne, visiting Father Alexander's tomb in St George's churchyard.
Photo: Darina Grigorova

17 March marks the first anniversary of the passing of Father Alexander Cikirik. For many years, he worked selflessly to restore and preserve the two Bulgarian temples in Edirne and Bulgarian traditions in the city.


On this occasion, Vice-President Iliana Iotova inaugurated a bas-relief of Father Alexander in the Bulgarian Church of St George in Edirne. She was also present at the opening ceremony of St George's Church, Radio Bulgaria's Darina Grigorova reported. 

"Every minute of his life was dedicated to the preservation of the Orthodox faith, the Bulgarian language and the strengthening of the Bulgarian community. Father Cikirik was one of the best ambassadors between Bulgaria and Turkey," the vice-president said at the ceremony. 


She thanked the priest's wife, Maria Cikirik, for continuing to run the Ivan Vazov Bulgarian Sunday School and the Prosveta National Community Centre. It is the only Bulgarian community centre abroad. Yotova assured Maria Cikirik of the presidential institution's support for her activities.



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

EPPO opens investigation into €4.5 million fraud of EU funds in Vratsa

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Sofia has filed an indictment with the Sofia District Court against the manager and owner of a company suspected of fraud in a public procurement procedure to the tune of €4.5 million (BGN 8 838 308)...

published on 2/11/25 2:08 PM
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (L) and US Vice President J.D. Vance in Paris, 11 February 2025.

PM Zhelyazkov meets VEEP Vance in Paris

Deepening the strategic partnership between the United States and Bulgaria should be a top priority for bilateral cooperation between our new administrations, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told US Vice President J.D. Vance, with whom he had a brief..

published on 2/11/25 1:36 PM
Laura Lochman and Zhecho Stankov, 11 February, 2025

Bulgaria and US set to deepen cooperation in energy

Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov met, in Washington, with Laura Lochman, US Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources. The two discussed the construction of a vertical gas corridor for diverse and sustainable gas..

published on 2/11/25 11:18 AM