Liturgy in Bulgarian brings together Bulgarians in Ireland after long pause

The festive Easter service began at 10:30 a.m. local time. The chapel and its surrounding space were filled with Bulgarians who had come from all parts of the country - despite strikes and road blockades caused by high fuel prices - to celebrate together the most sacred holiday in Orthodoxy, report correspondents of Radio Bulgaria and the “Bridge of Faith” podcast Darina Grigorova and Alexandra Karamihaleva.

Metropolitan Anthony himself officiated the Easter Divine Liturgy at the “All Saints” Chapel (All Hallows Chapel), located on the campus of Dublin City University in the northern part of Dublin.

“This is true happiness for all of us Bulgarians, for the entire Bulgarian community in Ireland - to be together in unity on the greatest of all holidays, because that is the very meaning of the word ‘church.’ It means community,” shared artist Vanya Savova, who has lived in Galway for years but woke up at 3 a.m. to attend the service.

“We often gather, we have folklore groups, the embassy carries out extensive cultural activities… But spiritually, the greatest joy is to hear, at least for me as a Bulgarian, ‘Christ is Risen’ in my native language. For the past 10 years, I have attended Romanian, Ukrainian, or other Orthodox churches, but to hear the greatest greeting of the Resurrection, of eternal life, in Bulgarian—this is truly the greatest happiness. In the last 48 hours, we have traveled several times through blockades due to ongoing protests on the highways, just to be here. We lead very active lives abroad, all so we can attend this service led by Metropolitan Anthony, which, as you know, is happening after more than 15 years. This has been a long-awaited moment for all of us. How could I not travel, how could I not wake up at 3 a.m. in these conditions to be here? This is something very important for all of us.”

In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, Vanya Savova emphasized that Easter is the “feast of feasts” for Christians.

“Every other Christian holiday has its symbolism and meaning, but the miracle of eternal life - the transcendental, beyond our earthly existence - is something only Easter brings. It gives us that sense of new life.

Especially here in Ireland, where we long for sunshine, light, birdsong, and green grass - things we Bulgarians carry within us, tied to the four seasons and historically and culturally connected to Easter. This truly is a Bulgarian Easter,” she said.

The event was organized by the Embassy of Bulgaria in Ireland at the initiative of Ambassador Vanya Andreeva-Malakova, who was also present. Among the attendees were the Director General of the Bulgarian National Radio Milen Mitev, the Director General of BTA Kiril Valchev, and the Director General of BNT Milena Milotinova, along with embassy staff and Bulgarian citizens living, working, and studying in Ireland.

The church hymns during the service were performed by the male chamber ensemble “Svetoglas,” specially invited for the occasion by Metropolitan Anthony.

Over the years, clergy from the diocese have periodically held services for Bulgarians in Ireland on major Christian holidays. Metropolitan Anthony, in his capacity as a vicar bishop to the then Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe, Simeon, also served in Ireland in 2011.