Bulgarian Orthodox community in Milan to celebrate on 7 December

On 7 December, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will commemorate Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Mediolanum (present-day Milan), the patron saint chosen by the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Milan. To mark the occasion, His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe will preside over a festive Divine Liturgy at the Church of Santa Maria Riparatrice, which is used by the Bulgarian Orthodox congregation in Milan. The service will begin at 10 am local time. The church is located at Via Sant’Antonio 5.

The Bulgarian Orthodox community in Milan was established in 2005 and was initially named 'Nativity of Christ' by its founders. In 2007, after gaining access to the Santa Maria Riparatrice church, the community was renamed 'Saint Ambrose of Milan'.

For the congregation’s religious needs, a portable iconostasis crafted by skilled woodcarver Ivan Novakov from Asenovgrad is used during services.

The icons are copies of works by Encho Uzunov, an icon painter from Troyan who has worked in Italy for many years.

The Saint Ambrose of Milan community is dedicated to preserving and promoting Christian virtues and values, and provides spiritual care for Bulgarians living or temporarily residing in Milan and northern Italy. It also undertakes active educational, cultural, social and charitable work in cooperation with the Bulgarian Consulate in Milan, the Bulgarian school “Peyo Yavorov,” and other organisations.

Over the past year, the community has organised two children’s competitions linked to significant Christian holidays, as well as charitable initiatives and educational talks for children and adolescents. The community has also participated in social and cultural events in collaboration with Bulgarian and Italian institutions.

A team from Radio Bulgaria recently visited the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Milan to report on community life for an upcoming edition of the specialised podcast Bridge of Faith.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova