Bulgarians around the world celebrate Christ's Resurrection

The “feast of feasts” for the Christian world has brought together Bulgarian communities across the globe.

In Dublin, for the first time since 2011, a festive Easter service was held in Bulgarian, led by the Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe Anthony. The event was attended by a team from Bulgarian National Radio and its Director General Milen Mitev. A concert by the Bulgarian vocal quartet for ancient polyphonic music Svetoglas resonated through the Irish capital.

The Bulgarian-American Police Association extended greetings to everyone on the occasion of Orthodox Easter via Facebook.

Dozens of Bulgarians in London welcomed the Resurrection of Christ together, according to the online outlet BG BEN. At 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, they gathered at the church “St. John of Rila,” entering with excitement. Many attended with their families. In the first minutes after midnight, they headed to the Holy Liturgy at the church “Holy Trinity,” behind the Bulgarian Embassy in London. The service was led by Father Dobromir and attended by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tihomir Stoychev.

In the Republic of South Africa, Bulgarians gathered on the night of April 12 to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ together at the Bulgarian church “St. John of Rila the Wonderworker” in Midrand. The Resurrection was proclaimed by Father Yonko Ivanov. Later, after the Second Resurrection liturgy, the community came together for a festive meal featuring traditional Bulgarian dishes and Easter bread (kozunak).

For another year, the Bulgarian school Bulgarian School Ivan Vazov Austin in Austin, Texas, organized a Bulgarian Easter celebration in the park from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. local time at Brushy Creek Lake Park. All Bulgarians and their friends in Austin and nearby cities were invited. The school promised traditional roasted lamb, along with folk dances and games for children to enhance the festive spirit.

On the eve of Easter, Bulgarians in Norway received good news. In a letter to Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Norway, Desislava Ivanova, Metropolitan Anthony announced that the Diocesan Council had blessed Father Krasimir Krumov to provide spiritual care for Orthodox Bulgarians in the country.

Father Krasimir Krumov, who lives in Bergen, is a cleric of the Veliko Tarnovo Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate. Currently, Orthodox Bulgarians in Bergen have organized a church mission, with services held at the temple Den ortodokse kirkeforeningen i Bergen on Sundays and major holidays. They will now be able to rely on a canonical priest of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova