Bailovo, Bulgaria, February 13, 2023
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
Elder Dobri Dobrev, known around the world for his great love and sacrifice of charity to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and people, reposed in the Lord five years ago today, at the age of 103.
On Sunday, the blessed Elder was prayerfully commemorated in his home village of Bailovo, where he is buried.
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
An icon of charity, Elder Dobri came under the spotlight when it was revealed that for years he had walked more than 12.5 miles to Sofia to beg for money and then donate it for charity.
After spending years at the entrance of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with a plastic cup in his hand, he collected about BGN 40,000 ($23,250 today) for the cathedral in Sofia, BGN 10,000 ($5,815 today) for the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Bailovo, and BGN 25,000 ($14,530 today) for the restoration of the Eleshnishki Monastery of the Mother of God located to the east of Sofia, and the local church of the Gorno Kamartsi village.
In honor of the beloved Elder, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Bailovo yesterday by His Grace Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik, vicar of the Sofia Metropolis, with local and visiting clergy, the Bulgarian Patriarchate reports.
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
After the Liturgy, Bp. Polycarp served a memorial litiya at the grave of Elder Dobri. In his sermon, the hierarch recalled the Elder’s ascetic feat and encouraged those present to remember him, love him, and pray for the repose of his soul, and on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Neofit, he blessed all those who had come to honor him.
The service was attended by dozens of local villagers and guests.
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