Pegasus Airlines Resumes Scheduled Flights Between Sofia and Istanbul
Pegasus Airlines is set to recommence its scheduled flights between Sofia and Istanbul, marking a significant milestone in air travel connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkey
Bulgarians mark Sunday 150 years since the historic “Bulgarian Easter” which has been seen as a crucial victory in their fight for an independent church.
The so called Bulgarian Easter (“Balgarskiyat Velikden”) was the culmination of the campaign of the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Turkish Empire to set up a national, Bulgarian Orthodox Church that would be independent of the Constantinople Patriarchate.
After it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the late 14th century, Bulgaria lost its own patriarchate, and was made part of the diocese of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople. The last partially independent Bulgarian church entity, the Ohrid Archbishopric, was shut down in 1767.
The fight for church independence from the Constantinople Patriarchate was an important part of the Bulgarian National Revival in the 19th century, and was seen as the first step to the creation of a liberated sovereign nation state of the Bulgarians. It sought to curb Greek cultural influence over the Bulgarians in the 18th and 19th century.
On April 3, 1860, Easter, Ilarion Makariopolski, the Bulgarian priest serving in the Bulgarian church St. Stefan in the Ottoman capital Istanbul, did not mention the name of the Constantinople Patriarch in his prayer, substituting it with the name of the Ottoman Turkish sultan.
Makariopolski and the two bishops who supported him, Avkseniy Veleshki and Paisyi Plovdivski, were jailed by the Patriarchate in a monastery on the Mount Athos Peninsula.
Nevertheless, the campaign for an independent Bulgarian church continued and succeeded on February 28, 1870, when the Ottoman sultan allowed the creation of an independent Bulgarian Exarchate.
A hundred and fifty years later, the Bulgarian Easter was marked again in the St. Stefan Church in Istanbul with a service performed by an emissary of the Bulgarian Holy Synod, Bishop Sioniy. About 1 000 Bulgarians flocked to the historic church for the Easter service, according to the Bulgarian National Radio.
The service was held at the initiative of Foundation “Bulgarian Orthodox Temple St. Stefan", which has been working for the preservation of the St. Stefan Church, an iron church built in 1849, specially for the Bulgarians in Istanbul.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Two infants from Kyustendil have tragically lost their lives after contracting whooping cough
Sofia's Lunar Festival of Lights is back, illuminating the city with more than 20 captivating light installations across its most iconic landmarks.
Overnight, rainfall across the country will temporarily cease, with some areas experiencing breaks in the clouds
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning regarding the spread of bird flu (H5N1) to various species, including humans, expressing deep concern over its impact and potential consequences
Today marks the commemoration of the holy martyr Victor, celebrated by Christians worldwide
Seventh-grader Kaloyan Geshev from Sofia's 125 SU "Boyan Penev" school has once again showcased his remarkable talent in speed calculation, clinching the title of three-time champion in mental math
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022