From Paris to Dublin: Why church life abroad is worth every effort

For Bulgarians abroad, crossing state borders for a church holiday or a service is not an exception. It is an established practice and a living confirmation of the conciliarity of the Church. Bulgarian compatriots in Europe, priests and laity, often travel hundreds of kilometres to a Bulgarian Orthodox church community to be part of the joy of the hosts and support them.
Dobrinka Gramova came from Paris with her husband – subdeacon Vasil Gramov and their two boys, especially for the Easter service in Dublin and to support the establishment of the new Bulgarian church community in Ireland.

For Radio Bulgaria’s podcast "Bridge of Faith" she shared her valuable experience of life in one of our oldest parishes in Europe - the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Community "St. Patriarch Evtimii Tarnovski" in Paris. This is a story about the Orthodox church community as one big Christian family and about the Orthodox faith as food for the soul. A conversation about the personal example of parents who overcome distances every Sunday to give their children healthy spiritual foundations and a sense of belonging.

Dobrinka has been living in France for more than a decade. She lives with her family in Joinville-le-Pont. The town is located in the Val-de-Marne department and is part of the so-called "Greater Paris" (Métropole du Grand Paris). In Paris, everyone can actively participate in the church life according to their abilities and preferences – to sing in the church choir, to deepen their knowledge of the faith, to draw, to help in the service or in the organization of extra-liturgical activities:

"We organise many workshops. There is a catechism workshop for children and adults, a singing workshop. My eldest son loves to sing and goes to this workshop. So am I. I don't remember a time when we didn't have our Bulgarian church community and our temple and I appreciate what we have," Dobrinka Gramova says.

When she takes stock of what the opportunity to participate in services in native language and in the life of the parish gives her and her loved ones, her face acquires a special softness and radiance. For her, church life is not just a formality, but an essential necessity and an element of existential importance.

"This is very valuable to us. I would say – food for the soul. It brings us peace, tranquility, a place where we can pray with other compatriots, to serve in our Church Slavonic, where we can celebrate our holidays like Easter and Christmas in our own way. We can confess in Bulgarian and with Bulgarian priests. The important thing for us is to be together.“ The connection with the Bulgarian church in Paris is deeply personal. There she and her children received holy Baptism and became members of the Church of Christ:

"Our children were actually born in Paris. We baptised them in the church, and I myself was baptised in the Bulgarian church in Paris, which is very valuable to me and is a strong connection to this church."

Behind the beautiful picture of the united parish, the shared faith, the shared joys and difficulties in the community, there is a conscious will and efforts, a kind of personal sacrifice and perseverance. And from the position of her experience in church life in Paris, Dobrinka Gramova addresses our compatriots in Ireland, who are still laying the foundations of their church community in Dublin:

"My advice is to believe, not to be discouraged by difficulties and not to give up. To have desire, will, perseverance. Because the church community is an incredible family. For the children, the services, the life in the Church is incredible food for the soul, as they learn good things there. So, despite the difficulties, it's worth it."

Faith as a shield against the challenges of the modern age is the other topic we touched on in our conversation with Dobrinka. Together with her husband, she feels much more secure about the future of her children, precisely because they take them to church services and educate them in the knowledge of God.

"In today's world, spirituality and spirit are under threat. Especially for children who are constantly in front of screens, it is very important for us that they have this spiritual food for the soul, to learn Christian virtues, to be good people. This time spent in church is very valuable for them," she says.

Dobrinka Gramova's words confirm that for Bulgarians abroad, the Orthodox parish is quickly becoming a spiritual family, providing peace, support, and a sense of home away from the Fatherland.