The Bulgarian Church of St. George the Victorious in Edirne celebrates 20 years since its restoration

published on 5/6/24 5:05 AM

Photo: BGNES

Built in just a few months by the Bulgarian community in Edirne, Turkey, the church of St. George the Victorious continues to preserve the Bulgarian Orthodox spirit for 144 years now. With the permission of Sultan Abdul Hamid II and with the cooperation of the Edirne valia (administrative governor) Reuf Pasha, on April 23, 1880, the foundations of the church of St. George the Victorious were laid. Reuf Pasha granted 400 liras for the Bulgarian church, after providing the Greek municipality with the Holy Trinity church, for which Bulgarians and Greeks argued. Reuf Pasha was a close friend of the Bulgarian bishop Synesius, who made great efforts to restore the Bulgarian congregation as the ruler of the Edirne diocese.

Unfortunately, after the signing of the Sultan's decree on the establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchy in 1870, under the pressure of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Bulgarian church community in Edirne remained in its diocese. The only possibility for him to join the Exarchate was the "loophole" left by the Turkish side - at least two-thirds of the Orthodox Bulgarians in the Edirne diocese to express their desire for it. These plans of Synesius, however, collided with the intrigues of the Catholic Bulgarian municipality in Edirne.‎

On the other hand, the Greek bishops of the diocese also tried in every possible way to thwart his plans. However, the Bulgarian bishop did not give up and toured the villages in Edirne and Aegean Thrace, helping to build churches and Bulgarian schools, consecrating newly built buildings and ordaining priests. And although he did not succeed in this endeavor, the Bulgarian community in Edirne to this day continues to support the two Orthodox churches of St. St. Constantine and Elena and of St. George the Victorious, which remain the only ones in the city. ‎

Thanks to the voluntary efforts of Father Filip Cikirik, a descendant of Bulgarians from Edirne, the church of St. George the Victorious was saved from ruin after it closed its doors in 1951. Father Philip supported it with his own funds together with his son Alexander Cikirik, who managed to organize charity campaigns and initiatives for its restoration. ‎

20 years ago, the restored church was solemnly opened and consecrated on May 9, 2004 by His Eminence Metropolitan Neophyte of Ruse. Until March 17, 2023, Father Alexander Cikirik developed a real educational activity, but after his death, the diocese was orphaned and remained without a priest:‎

"We will try to continue the work of Father Alexander because it is a worthy deed and must be maintained", noted Father Angel from Svilengrad on the day of the anniversary of the death of the priest from Edirne. "Bulgaria and the Bulgarian spirit must be maintained and services in the church should be performed only in the Bulgarian language. This is a Bulgarian temple, built with Bulgarian funds, by Bulgarians, who gave their lives, dedicated their lives, so that these churches are in the state we see them in now. We will try to serve, but this does not depend only on us, but also on the blessing of Metropolitan Amfilochius of Adrianople, who has given his verbal consent that services in this church should be conducted in Bulgarian."‎

Bulgarians in Edirne have the support of the Bulgarian presidential institution, in the person of Vice President Iliana Iotova, who stated that she would make every effort so that church services in the temple are again held in the Bulgarian language, as it was during the time of Father Alexander. ‎

"Soon, we will have a church service at least once a month", assures Archim. Atanasiy Sultanov from the Diocese of Stara Zagora. "Unfortunately, there is a huge lack of priests in Bulgaria and no one can be permanently sent here. If it becomes necessary to appoint a permanent priest, I guess the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Bulgarian Patriarchate will find an agreement and a priest will be sent. Metropolitan Amfilochius is open to this. After all, he is the Metropolitan of Edirne and we must have his blessing."

There remains the hope that the son of Father Alexander - Georgi will continue the mission of his father and grandfather. May Saint George help him fulfill his dream of serving the Bulgarian community in Edirne!‎

Photos: Darina Grigorova, BGNES

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