Metropolitan Anthony on Orthodoxy as a Spiritual Bridge Between Cultures

Mysticism and divine grace are leading more and more Western Europeans to choose Orthodoxy as their faith, says the head of the diocese in Western and Central Europe

Photo: Darina Grigorova

Almost 40 years ago, Bulgarian Orthodox Church communities were established in Western and Central Europe in several cities - Budapest, Munich, Vienna, Stockholm, Malmö, Oslo and Paris. With Bulgaria's accession to the European Union and the expansion of the Bulgarian diaspora, these parishes began to grow, and today there are 43 of them.

Gradually, with the help of donations and support from immigrant organisations and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, independent places of worship have been established, providing space for Bulgarians to worship.

In recent years, such spiritual centres have been established in Hamburg and Stuttgart. "At the end of February we will open the new Bulgarian Orthodox Church 'St John of Rila' in London," said Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe in an interview with Radio Bulgaria. Metropolitan Anthony, who has led the diocese for 12 years, was a guest on the first episode of our new podcast, Bridge of Faith.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) works closely with other sister Orthodox Churches abroad, supporting each other in their ministries and standing together in upholding Christian values.

As a member of the Conference of Orthodox Bishops in Western and Central Europe, the Metropolitan participates in ecclesiastical meetings with representatives of all Orthodox Churches in the region to discuss issues related to the contemporary challenges facing the Orthodox Church.

For several years now, meetings for young people have also been organised in various countries, where Bulgarian priests from the diocese participate in liturgies aimed entirely at the younger generation, who follow the services with great interest. Meetings are also held with representatives of other Christian denominations and faiths.

"We all live on the same earth and the issues of morality, spirituality and ethics concern all the major recognised religious denominations," said Metropolitan Anthony. "We follow with interest, but also with concern, what is happening in the modern world: the wars, the crisis of moral values, the excessive liberalism in our society, which distances people from God and blurs the boundaries between good and evil. Sometimes, with great regret and sorrow, we witness things that compel us to react and make statements. Whether we are heard depends on the institutions themselves".

According to Metropolitan Anthony, there is a deep interest in the Orthodox Church, especially among people who have grown up in a very secular environment, such as that of Western and Central Europe. "The mysticism of Orthodoxy, the hymns, the interior, the very atmosphere, and most of all, the grace that flows abundantly because of the prayers of the clergy and all the people in the church, cannot fail to be felt by those present."

"There are quite a few people who attend services for years, and in the end they decide that they don't want to just attend, but they want to communicate with the priests, with other Orthodox Christians, and in the end they make the decision that they want to embrace the Orthodox faith. And when they do, they are very zealous, very firm in their decision and very diligent in what they have to do. One such example is the Orthodox German Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Buchhagen, which belongs to the Diocese of our Eparchy.

There are five monks there, all Germans who have embraced the Orthodox faith, under the guidance of their abbot, Schema-Archimandrite Ioan (Johannes Pfeiffer), who leads them. They are building the monastery with their own efforts, with their own hands. They will also complete the construction of the large church in the monastery. This is an example of Germans who have embraced Orthodoxy and are enlightening other Germans.

Many people there are baptised according to the ancient Orthodox tradition, once a year, after having prepared in the traditional way, on Holy Easter. They then wear white robes throughout Easter week, following the ancient tradition in which "all those baptised on Pascha wore white, radiant garments."

After the service, people gather round the table. They talk freely with each other and the priest.

"This ancient apostolic tradition is also the origin of the term 'Bright Week'. To the outside world all this may seem impressive, even exotic, but for those who are truly in faith it is a profound spiritual experience. It is a great spiritual joy for all of us to see so many young people with their families accepting Holy Baptism, going to church every Sunday, sharing in the sacrament and the life of the Church," says Metropolitan Anthony, adding:

When I visit this monastery, it's as if time has stopped. It feels like a journey back in time because they use a very interesting German Gothic script from before the writing reforms in Germany. Their monks are dressed in simple woolen and cotton robes, similar to the traditional clothing of our ancestors. And when you enter, it's as if you are in the times when the holy fathers of the Church, the apostles of Christ, lived. For us, this is truly a great spiritual charge - in this vain time of materialism, secularism and, if I may call it that, modernism, to return to the eternal and meaningful things, like faith."

Photos: Darina Grigorova, orthodox.de

Posted in English by E. Radkova

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