Jacksonville, FL: 2020 Bulgarian Church Conference (Sept. 1-5)
Bulgarian Church of God splits in 10
The Bulgarian Church of God has split in no less than 10 since the early 2000s as following:
- Bulgarian Church of God (27.12.1990)
- Church of God in Bulgaria (23.01.2006)
- God’s Church (13938/2006: 07.02.2007)
- Church of God-12 (Sofia, Rodostono)
- New Generation Church of God (05.04.2000)
- Bethesda Church of God (27.12.2010)
- BulLiv Church of God (15.01.2000)
- New Life Church of God (06.11.2000)
- Bulgarian Church of God – Sofia (4996/2003 Sredetz, E.Georgiev Bul. 2, apt. 4)
- Bridge Church of God (50/2013)
Spiritual Fullness (Fullness in the Spirit) among Early Bulgarian Pentecostals and Today
Bulgaria’s early Pentecostals insisted on a spiritual fullness that included: (1) salvation, (2) water baptism and (3) baptism with the Spirit.[1] As a formula of spiritual experience, it satisfied the witness of blood, water and Spirit (1 Jn. 5:8) on earth; but also corresponded with the triune God in heaven (1 Jn. 5:7), from whom the believer’s spiritual experience originated. Many conservative Pentecostals in Bulgaria today still uphold “the fullness” teaching and would not use Bibles that exclude Johannine Comma (1 John 5:7) for these three “bear record in heaven.”[2]
However, even with the already present Trinitarian experience of the believer and the enormous theological Methodist influence, it is astounding that the doctrine of sanctification was not taught as a separate work of grace among Bulgarian Protestants. Even when after Pentecostalism spread in Bulgaria, it was not included in the tri-fold formula for “spiritual fullness” of the believer. During the persecution of the Communist Regime, speaking in tongues during Communion was done as a spiritual confirmation that the person has “fullness in the Spirit” or is not a government agent sent by the police to spy on the rest of the church. Interpretation often followed to confirm the spiritual stand of the believer. Early Bulgarian Pentecostals did not distinguish between the initial evidence and the gift of speaking in tongues. Even communist propaganda author Boncho Assenov, who categorized Pentecostals as a sectarian cult, defined this fullness as fundamental for the sacramental theology of the early charismatic communities in Bulgaria.[3]
[1] Mollov, 209.
[2] Zarev, 28.
[3] Boncho Asenov, Religiite i sektite v Bŭlgariia (Sofia: Partizdat, 1968), 167, 367.
See also:
The Practice of Corporate Holiness within the Communion Service of Bulgarian Pentecostals
Sanctification and Personal Holiness among Early Bulgarian Pentecostals
Water Baptism among early Bulgarian Pentecostals
First Pentecostal Missionaries to Bulgaria (1920)
Our Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association celebrates 25 years of Military Ministry in Bulgaria
Our Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association celebrates 25 years of Military Ministry in Bulgaria since the first event co-hosted by the Bulgarian Armed Forces and government officials in 1997.
2018 The Road toward a Balkan Multi-Ministry Center and Legal Status
2017 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Legal Case Renewed
2015 Revisting the Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs by Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association
2014 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution Reaffirmed
2012 First Class of the Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program
2011 Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program Continues
2010 Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program begins in Sofia, Bulgaria
2009 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association holds an introductory chaplaincy course in Yambol, Bulgaria
2008 The Case of a NATO Chaplaincy Model within the Bulgarian Army released
2007 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Associations Recognized by U.S. Department of State
2006 Registration for the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Rejected by Bulgarian Court
2005 The Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association presented before the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance
2004 Three U.S. Bases in Bulgaria to be Built by 2010
2003 The Case of a NATO Chaplaincy Model within the Bulgarian Army
2002 First Balkan Chaplaincy Conference at the Central Church of God in Sofia, Bulgaria
2001 Church of God Chaplaincy Commission to visit Bulgaria
2000 Euro-seminar: Christian ethics in the military forces
1997 First Military Ministry Seminar in Veliko Tarnovo
With all this accomplished, in the beginning of the 21st century law and chaplaincy meet on the road to democracy as Bulgaria remains the only country in NATO without military force chaplaincy. But before chaplaincy could be legalized completely and endorsed by the state to its full functionality, several changes must be undergone. Some of them are:
- Legal provision allowing chaplains to work as staff in the army, which guarantees the equal presence of protestant chaplains as well.
- The approval, acceptance and implementation of a NATO based model for chaplaincy within the structures of the Bulgarian Army.
- Periodical and systematic educational strategy toward chaplaincy workers among Bulgarian evangelicals.
- A paradigm for cooperation of Bulgarian chaplains from various ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
- Further research publications to enhance the efficiency of chaplaincy within the Bulgarian national context.
Also important [click to read]:
- U.S. Department of State recognizes our chaplaincy efforts in Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution
- Chronology of our role and involvement in developing Church of God chaplaincy in Bulgaria since 2001
- Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program in Bulgaria Reflections
- The Past Decade of Chaplaincy in Bulgaria (2006-2016)
- Related Publications and Presentations by Cup & Cross Ministries International
More Publications on the Topic and History of Events:
- Chaplaincy Conference and Master’s of Chaplaincy
- Chaplaincy Course in Yambol, BULGARIA
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Annual Meeting
- Family Seminar for Military Men and Women
- Cup & Cross Ministries in Church of God Publications
- The Case of a NATO Chaplaincy Model within the Bulgarian Army
- 10 Years of Military Ministry in Bulgaria
- National Chaplaincy Conference
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Gains Legal Status
- Chaplain Dees Visits Bulgaria
- Chaplaincy Course at the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association
- Meeting the NATO Chaplain
- National Chaplaincy Meeting
- Chaplaincy Developments in Bulgaria
- U.S. Bases in Bulgaria
- National Chaplaincy Meeting
- Chaplaincy in Bulgaria
- HEALTHCARE CHAPLAINCY IN BULGARIA
- Chaplaincy in Bulgaria
- Mission Bulgaria
NEW Bulgarian Bible Theological Dictionary
Bulgarian Church of God Membership 20 Years Later
Bulgarian Church of God Membership 20 Years Ago
Bulgarian Congregationalists
Congregationalists (called “Evangelicals” in Bulgaria, the word “Protestant” is not used [3] ) were among the first Protestant missionaries to the Ottoman Empire and to the Northwestern part of the European Ottoman Empire which is now Bulgaria, where their work to convert these Orthodox Christians was unhampered by the death penalty imposed by the Ottomans on Muslim converts to Christianity.[4] These missionaries were significant contributors to the Bulgarian National Revival movement. Today, Protestantism in Bulgaria represents the third largest religious group, behind Orthodox and Muslim. Missionaries from the United States first arrived in 1857–58, sent to Istanbul by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). The ABCFM was proposed in 1810 by the Congregationalist graduates of Williams College, MA, and was chartered in 1812 to support missions by Congregationalists, Presbyterian (1812–1870), Dutch-Reformed (1819–1857) and other denominational members.[5] The ABCFM focused its efforts on southern Bulgaria and the Methodist Church on the region north of the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina, or “Old Mountains”). In 1857, Cyrus Hamlin and Charles Morse established three missionary centres in southern Bulgaria – in Odrin (Edirne, former capital city of the Ottoman Empire, in Turkey), Plovdiv and Stara Zagora. They were joined in 1859 by Russian born naturalized America Frederic Flocken in 1859.[6] American Presbyterian Minister Elias Riggs commissioned, supported and edited the work of Bulgarian monk Neofit Rilski to create a Bible translations into Bulgarian which was then distributed widely in Bulgaria in 1871 and thereafter. This effort was supported by Congregationalist missionary Albert Long, Konstantin Fotinov, Hristodul Sechan-Nikolov and Petko Slaveikov.[7] Reportedly, 2,000 copies of the newly translated Bulgarian language New Testament were sold within the first two weeks.
Congregational churches were established in Bansko, Veliko Turnovo, and Svishtov between 1840 to 1878, followed by Sofia in 1899. By 1909, there were 19 Congregational churches, with a total congregation of 1,456 in southern Bulgaria offering normal Sunday services, Sunday schools for children, biblical instruction for adults; as well as women’s groups and youth groups. Summer Bible schools were held annually from 1896 to 1948.[8]
Congregationalists led by Dr James F. Clarke opened Bulgaria’s first Protestant primary school for boys in Plovdiv in 1860, followed three years later by a primary school for girls in Stara Zagora. In 1871 the two schools were moved toSamokov and merged as the American College, now considered the oldest American educational institution outside the US. In 1928, new facilities were constructed in Sofia, and the Samokov operation transferred to the American College of Sofia (ACS), now operated at a very high level by the Sofia American Schools, Inc.[9]
In 1874, a Bible College was opened in Ruse, Bulgaria for people wanting to become pastors. At the 1876 annual conference of missionaries, the beginning of organizational activity in the country was established. The evangelical churches of Bulgaria formed a united association in 1909.[10]
The missionaries played a significant role in assisting the Bulgarians throw off “the Turkish Yoke”, which included publishing the magazine Zornitsa (Зорница, “Dawn”), founded in 1864 by the initiative of Riggs and Long.[11] Zornitsa became the most powerful and most widespread newspaper of the Bulgarian Renaissance.[12] A small roadside marker on Bulgarian Highway 19 in the Rila Mountains, close to Gradevo commemorates the support given the Bulgarian Resistance by these early Congregationalist missionaries.
On 3 September 1901 Congregationalist missionaries came to world attention in the Miss Stone Affair when missionary Ellen Maria Stone,[13] of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and her pregnant fellow missionary friend Macedonian-Bulgarian Katerina Stefanova–Tsilka, wife of an Albanian Protestant minister, were kidnapped while traveling between Bansko and Gorna Dzhumaya (now Blagoevgrad), by an Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization detachment led by the voivoda Yane Sandanski and the sub-voivodas Hristo Chernopeev and Krǎstyo Asenov and ransomed to provide funds for revolutionary activities. Eventually, a heavy ransom (14,000 Ottoman lira (about US$62,000 at 1902 gold prices or $5 million at 2012 gold prices) raised by public subscription in the USA was paid on 18 January 1902 in Bansko and the hostages (now including a newborn baby) were released on 2 February near Strumica—a full five months after being kidnapped. Widely covered by the media at the time, the event has been often dubbed “America’s first modern hostage crisis”.
The Bulgarian royal house, of Catholic German extraction, was unsympathetic to the American inspired Protestants, and this mood became worse when Bulgaria sided with Germany in WWI and WWII.[14] Matters became much worse when the Bulgarian Communist Party took power in 1944. Like the Royal Family, it too saw Protestantism closely linked to the West and hence more politically dangerous than traditional Orthodox Christianity. This prompted repressive legislation in the form of “Regulations for the Organization and Administration of the Evangelical Churches in the People’s Republic of Bulgaria” and resulted in the harshest government repression, possibly the worst in the entire Eastern Bloc, intended to extinguish Protestantism altogether. Mass arrests of pastors (and often their families), torture, long prison sentences (including four life sentences) and even disappearance were common. Similar tactics were used on parishioners. In fifteen highly publicized mock show-trials between 8 February and 8 March 1949, all the accused pastors confessed to a range of charges against them, including treason, spying (for both the US and Yugoslavia (!)), black marketing, and various immoral acts. State appointed pastors were foist on surviving congregations. As late as the 1980s, imprisonment and exile were still employed to destroy the remaining Protestant churches. The Congregationalist magazine “Zornitsa” was banned; Bibles became unobtainable.[15] As a result, the number of Congregationalists is small, and estimated by Paul Mojzes in 1982 to number about 5,000, in 20 churches. (Total Protestants in Bulgaria were estimated in 1965 to have been between 10,000 and 20,000.)[16] More recent estimates indicate enrollment in Protestant (“Evangelical” or “Gospel”) churches of between 100,000 and 200,000,[17] presumably reflecting the success of more recent missionary efforts of evangelical groups. The United Church of Christ has been described as “the historic continuation of the Congregational churches”.[18]
Bulgarian Evangelical Churches in Germany (2022 Report)
Bulgarian Evangelical Churches in Germany (2022 Report)
Koloniestraße 23, 13359 Berlin
P-r Trajan
Rathausstr. 13, 21502 Geesthacht
P-r Nasko
Zollhofstrasse 4, 67061 Ludwigshafen
P-r Asen
Ruhrort Apostelestr. 58, Duisburg 47053
P-r Dari
Kaiser Wilhelm Str. 255, 47169 Duisburg
Bremen Walle Heerstr 197
P-r Dimitar
Hofäckerstrasse 3 71732 Tamm
P-r Emil
Höfflerstr. 14 – Kaiserslautern 67659
P-r Todor
Franz Georg str 36, Trier 54290
P-r Krasimir i Bena
Kirschstr 45a, Montabaur 56410
P-r Ličo i Lejsti
Donauwörther str. 85, Neuburg an der Donau 86633
P-r Ličo i Cecka
Thiewall 9, Hameln 31785
P-r Vasko i Irena
Berliner Str. 77, 51064
P-r Mančo i Dari
Bahnhofstr. 4, Hagen 58095
P-r Miroslav
Oranien Str. 15, Wiesbaden 65185
P-r Sašo, „Šalom Visbaden“
Hinterbärenbadstr. 4, München 81373
Hafenweg 31, 48155 Münster
P-r Simeon i Pepi Vlačkovi
Sundays 7 PM
Goethering 9-11, Osnabrück 49074
P-r Gosho
Lange Str. 226, D-59067 Hamm
P-r Ivo
Zwickau (Sachsen)
Domashna grupa
Rosen
Bremen – Evangel. Gemeinschaftszentrum, Waller Heerstraße 197, 28219 Bremen
Seitenweg 13, 28309 Bremen
Jašar Atanasov
Duisburg
Die Brücke, Johannismarkt 7, 47169 Duisburg
Jašar Mihajlov
http://duisburg.incilbg.com/
Hannover
Lankwitzweg 56, D-30179 Hannover
Aldeniz
Frankfurt a.M.
Lotzstr. 54, 65934 Frankfurt-Nied
Asen Stefanov
Sundays 1:30 PM
http://www.iyihaber-frankfurt.de
Hamburg
Lichtinsel Veringstrasse 47: D-21107 Hamburg – Wilhelmsburg
P-r Ilhan
Sundays 2PM
Domašna grupa
Billstedter Hauptst. 43, 22111 Hamburg
Okšan
Kiel
Domašna grupa
Bilhan
Limburg
Offheimer Weg 50, 65549 Limburg
Ferdi Filipov
Offenbach a.M.
Waldstr. 36, 63065 Offenbach
Sali Ahmed 01771470903
Nedelja ot 17:30 http://www.iyihaber-offenbach.de/
Osnabrück
Goethering 9-11, 49074 Osnabrück
P-r Nazmi
Limburg
Offheimer Weg 50, D-65549 Limburg
Filip Filipov
Nedelja 18:00 č.
Mönchengladbach
Domašno sabirane
Jakub Jakubov
Saarland / Ramiz Ognjanov
New Bulgarian PM pledges U-turn on North Macedonia’s EU ambitions
Bulgaria’s new prime minister has signalled that Sofia will finish its obstruction of North Macedonia’s bid to affix the EU as soon as his new authorities takes workplace within the coming weeks.
Kiril Petkov, who was confirmed as premier by the nation’s parliament on Monday after his social gathering took the most important share of the vote in November’s elections, made the pledge as he reaffirmed Bulgaria’s dedication to Nato and the west. “We’re on the best facet of Nato and EU insurance policies, 100 per cent,” he instructed the Monetary Occasions in an interview earlier than he was confirmed as prime minister.
“We are going to suggest a brand new course of [on North Macedonia], very quick, with a restricted timeframe, simply six months lengthy,” he mentioned.
Sofia wished sure points to stay on the desk, he famous, together with either side pledging to combat hate crime towards the opposite and North Macedonia referring to its historic connection to Bulgaria in its structure. However he indicated compromise was doable. “Let the 2 populations begin speaking about the advantages of working collectively.,” he mentioned. “As soon as we put the upsides on the desk . . . discussions about compromises are a lot simpler to have.”
The prime minister added: “As soon as that is all achieved . . . I consider we will fortunately signal Macedonia into the EU.”
The U-turn comes after Bulgaria final yr vetoed its neighbour’s EU accession talks amid disputes over historical past and identification. Critics on the time accused Bulgaria’s former centre-right chief Boyko Borisov of resorting to nationalism to distract consideration from months of protests towards organised crime and corruption on his watch.
Borisov was ousted in April elections, however failure to agree a coalition led to recent polls in July and once more in November, when Petkov’s centrist We Proceed the Change (PP) social gathering received a few quarter of the vote.
We search an lively and dedicated function for Bulgaria each within the EU and in Nato. We not need to be the dangerous child behind the classroom
Petkov and his coalition companions — the Socialist social gathering, “turbo-folk” pop star Slavi Trifonov’s anti-establishment ITN, and the liberal Democratic Bulgaria — accomplished the primary draft of a coalition settlement final Monday.
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The brand new authorities’s rapid problem can be tackling the nation’s coronavirus disaster. Bulgaria has among the many world’s highest demise charges and lowest vaccination charges.
“We now have to extend vaccinations for certain,” mentioned Petkov, whose social gathering campaigned on a pledge to eradicate corruption and streamline the state. “We are going to put up a ample finances for promotion . . . I’ll invite consultants, go to hospitals and present the scenario. It’s as a lot a well being program as an financial program. We can’t shut Bulgaria once more.”
The incoming prime minister may also face a fancy overseas coverage balancing act at a time when Russia is taking part in an more and more assertive function within the area.
Petkov instructed the FT the brand new authorities would put discussions with North Macedonia on a recent footing. “We are going to use working teams . . . to hash out options on points like joint financial exercise, infrastructure, tradition and historical past,” he mentioned.
North Macedonia, which first known as itself the Republic of Macedonia, emerged out of the previous Yugoslavia and was granted EU candidate standing in 2005. Its software was held up for years by Greek opposition to its unique identify, which Athens complained implied a territorial declare on the Greek area of the identical identify. The difficulty was resolved in 2019 when the qualifier “North” was added.
In the meantime relations between Sofia and Skopje deteriorated, with many Bulgarians rejecting the idea of a separate Macedonian identification and language, and disputes over occasions relationship again to the second world battle.
North Macedonian particular forces participate within the 2021 parade celebrating the nation’s independence. Many Bulgarians reject the idea of a separate Macedonian identification © Robert Atanasovski/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Nonetheless, Petkov faces a problem in framing his authorities’s North Macedonia coverage. The enigmatic ITN chief Trifonov has cultivated a picture rooted in romantic nationalism — which in Bulgaria encompasses the declare that North Macedonia is ethnically and culturally Bulgarian. His social gathering has nominated the coalition’s overseas minister and power minister.
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A latest Gallup Worldwide ballot discovered fewer than 10 per cent of Bulgarians help North Macedonia’s EU aspirations outright, and greater than 70 per cent again upholding Bulgaria’s veto on Skopje’s accession talks till the bilateral disagreements are settled.
Petkov mentioned ITN was a constructive companion in coalition talks and that areas of concern mentioned in latest months would stay on the desk. “For instance, within the Macedonian textbooks Bulgaria shouldn’t be known as fascist,” he mentioned, alluding to Macedonian descriptions of Bulgarian troops occupying — or in Bulgaria’s view, liberating and managing — what’s as we speak North Macedonia throughout the Forties.
The prime minister aimed to win either side spherical with sweeteners, together with monetary funding, infrastructure and cultural tasks and a publicity push. “We’re prepared not simply to speak the discuss but in addition put some cash on the desk,” he mentioned.
Sofia may also must tread rigorously at a time of intensifying tensions within the Black Sea area, the place Russia is more and more flexing its muscle tissue following its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Bulgaria wished to finish its dependence on Russian power, Petkov mentioned. The nation obtains practically all its pure fuel from Russia. A pipeline operating by way of Greece to Bulgaria that would carry different provides has been beneath building for over a decade.
Petkov famous Sofia had already signed contracts for provides of Azeri fuel by way of the Greek route and pledged to finish the Bulgarian a part of the work as quickly as doable.
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Petkov mentioned his overseas coverage would deal with averting armed battle “anyplace within the neighbourhood” however that the nation remained anchored within the west.
A remark by his political mentor, President Rumen Radev, throughout an election debate in November — when Radev sparked concern amongst worldwide allies by saying “Crimea is . . . at the moment Russian” — had not signalled a change in Bulgaria’s stance, Petkov argued. The president merely meant to name consideration to the truth on the bottom, he mentioned.
“We’re treating Crimea as a part of Ukraine, there isn’t any doubt about that,” Petkov insisted. “However we need to be sure to make use of all diplomatic means to keep away from army battle.
“We search an lively and dedicated function for Bulgaria each within the EU and in Nato,” he added. “We not need to be the dangerous child behind the classroom.”
