Bulgarian church consecrated in South Africa—home to 1000s of Bulgarians (+VIDEO)

Johannesburg, South Africa, May 15, 2023

Photo: bta.bg Photo: bta.bg     

The first-ever Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the Republic of South Africa was consecrated over the weekend.

The consecration of the Church of St. John of Rila in Johannesburg was celebrated by the visiting Bulgarian hierarch His Eminence Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora and attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Damaskinos of Johannesburg and Pretoria of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, reports the Bulgarian News Agency.​

The service was also attended by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev who visited South Africa on Friday and Saturday.

“I am convinced that this holy place will be an increasingly stronger spiritual center of attraction for all Bulgarians in the region,” Radev said. According to the Bulgarian outlet dir.bg, as of 2017 there were between 25,000 and 30,000 Bulgarians living in the African country.

Photo: bta.bg Photo: bta.bg     

“To have a place of worship away from our homeland has been a dream of ours for a very long time,” said Yordan Radkev, President of the Association of Bulgarians in South Africa.

Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!

5/15/2023

See also
Bulgarian Church celebrates 70th anniversary of restored Patriarchate Bulgarian Church celebrates 70th anniversary of restored Patriarchate Bulgarian Church celebrates 70th anniversary of restored Patriarchate Bulgarian Church celebrates 70th anniversary of restored Patriarchate
The Holy Synod also issued a statement on the occasion, covering the long history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Director of Orthodox Africa Escapes Mob Director of Orthodox Africa Escapes Mob
H. David Sauls Director of Orthodox Africa Escapes Mob Director of Orthodox Africa Escapes Mob
Fr. Silouan (Brown), H. David Sauls
A mission without a mission car is paralyzed. Bulgarian music students raise thousands to build village church Bulgarian music students raise thousands to build village church Bulgarian music students raise thousands to build village church Bulgarian music students raise thousands to build village church
As of 2013, the village had a population of just 430, most of whom are Turks. There is a mosque in the village, but the church was destroyed in 1944 and was replaced by a community center.

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×