Celebrating 16 Years of Chaplaincy on the High Seas

We began our literal journey of ministry on the high seas in 2009. After exploring the opportunity for several years’ prior and submitting applications to various chaplaincy organizations which dealt with such ministry, the doors finally opened for Cup and Cross.

This search for a ministerial identity and its proper application in the real world coincided with the start of the Master’s in Chaplaincy Ministry Program which we designed for the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute in Sofia around 2008-2009. The long standing relationships with professors, active military chaplains from various fields and countries, and the wisdom of several Generals in the field helped us calibrate our ministry focus with what is needed by real people in the real world.

The new fad “to be real” is not enough in a realistic ministry setting. When 25ft. high storm waves beat the aft and the ship is thrown towards the dark wall of ocean waters ahead, one cannot help but “to be real” and depend on a very real and skilled crew. A captain alone cannot run the boat through a storm even if all systems are reported working. It is the crew deep down in the engine room and making its way on the slippery deck that makes it all happen.

The Crew. Some of them have not seen their families for months or even a year at times. They struggle with the same fears and anxieties as the rest of us. Except, while the rest of us can hold on to something for dear life, the crew is obligated by duty to continue to serve and move the boat ahead. The little chapel on the top deck becomes a passage to a lagoon past the riffs of stormy life where stories are shared, prayers are lifted up together and human lives are reclaimed anew for Heaven.

We have found these nontraditional paths of travel and ministry yielding the most unique encounters and connections for Kingdom growth.  Our family is thankful for these 10 years and looking forward to even more means of ministry outside of the four church walls.  If you would like for us to come to your church as share our journey feel free to reach out to us.

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

Bulgarian Exit Polls Raise Fears Of Political Stalemate

SOFIA – In what appears to be the continuation of a long-standing political deadlock, exit polls gave former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s center-right GERB party the most votes in Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections but without enough support to form a government by itself.

The influential Alpha Research/BNT exit poll gave GERB 26.4 percent of the vote, followed by the reformist PP (We Continue The Change) at 14.9 percent and the far-right, pro-Russia Revival Party at 12.9 percent, amid low turnout. An exit poll conducted for bTV by Market Links had similar results, albeit with a slightly higher figure for GERB. Other parties appeared to score enough to reach the 4 percent minimum requirement to gain seats in parliament, with two other groupings near that level.

Borisov’s pro-Western GERB party is not expected to win enough seats for a parliamentary majority and will need to form a coalition. GERB announced that Borisov would be their candidate for prime minister if it secures at least 80 out of 240 seats in parliament. PP (We Continue The Change) has said it would not support Borisov for the position and have demanded an independent prime minister with strong anti-corruption credentials.

October 2024 Bulgarian Parliamentary Election

Snap parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 27 October 2024,^[1][2] after all three attempts to form a government following the latest June 2024 elections failed. This was the country’s sixth snap election since 2021. This series of snap elections is the result of a political crisis affecting the country.

The June 2024 elections, held at the same time as the European Parliament elections, had the lowest turnout (33%) since the end of communist rule in 1989.^[3] It resulted in GERB–SDS winning most of the votes and 68 seats, with no party or alliance obtaining enough seats to form a majority in the National Assembly.^[15] The new elected 50th Parliament replaced the 49th Parliament,^[16] when all elected members were sworn in on 19 June.^[17] Government formation attempts were given to GERB, PP–DB and There is Such a People (ITN), with the final attempt failing on 5 August.^[18][19][20]

On 9 August the Bulgarian President as a consequence instead appointed the Vice President of the Bulgarian National Audit Office, Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva, as the next caretaker prime minister.^[21] Grancharova-Kozhareva was granted ten days to form a proposal for the next caretaker government to be appointed on 20 August, and the upcoming next parliamentary elections were scheduled for 20 October 2024.^[22] Grancharova-Kozhareva made the controversial decision to propose that the incumbent minister of the interior, Kalin Stoyanov, should remain in his role, but this was opposed by president Rumen Radev. Radev rejected the government proposal, delaying the upcoming election.^[23]

Following the rejection of Grancharova-Kozhareva, Radev re-appointed Dimitar Glavchev as the caretaker prime minister,^[24] and his government proposal was sworn in on 27 August, and the elections were set for the 27 October.^[25][26]

GOD’s Promise Still Stands

Bulgarian MRF: Dogan on the Run

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has responded to two reports regarding potential threats to the security of Ahmed Dogan, the honorary chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS). The reports came from locations in the Boyana district of  Sofia and from Rosenets Park, and were made by DPS activists via the 112 emergency number.

Patrols were dispatched to the areas to ensure public safety and prevent any unlawful activities. An on-site inspection revealed that the situation was a civil-legal dispute unrelated to the Ministry’s direct involvement. The findings from this inspection will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

Supporters of Dogan continue to gather outside his residence in the Boyana district, aiming to prevent any removal of property. Timur Halilov, a representative of the DPS, has raised concerns about unidentified security personnel present in the building since yesterday afternoon. Police teams visited the Boyana residence last night, but the situation behind the fence remains unclear. Halilov criticized the ongoing situation as a form of “gross self-government,” stating that the nature of the individuals involved and their motives are unknown. He claimed that the security company, allegedly involved, should not be removing long-term employees from the premises.

Valentin Tonchev: Dogan is returning to politics with full force. He will be on the DPS lists for the elections

“We are having talks. One of the reasons why Delyan Peevski was released from the DPS was that there were no talks, the collective bodies did not meet. Now we are meeting, commenting on regions and drawing up lists, Tonchev also pointed out

Ahmed Dogan is returning to operational politics. He will most likely be on the lists of the “Movement for Rights and Freedoms”, he said in the program “This Morning” Valentin Tonchev from Ahmed Dogan’s wing in the DPS.

„Ahmed Dogan will appear very soon. He will participate in media interviews. It is coming back with full force“, the people’s representative is categorical.

„We are having conversations. One of the reasons why Delyan Peevski was released from the DPS was that there were no talks, the collective bodies did not meet. Now we are meeting, commenting on regions and redim lists”, he pointed out.
Tonchev was authorized to register the party for the elections.

  

„What happened two days ago was a blow against democracy. The CEC must be an independent body that must ensure the conduct of fair and transparent elections. “Deputies of Delyan Peevski blocked the members of the CEC from taking their jobs in the most brutal way,” commented Tonchev.
The representative of DPS-Dogan explained that they had been in the CEC building since the day before, as they had registered for the partial local elections.

„We went out and waited until the next morning. You all saw how the CEC did not open the doors. Why? Because we were going to register the party. Now there are two coalitions of the DPS. In Delyan Peevski’s are the breakaways from “Vazrazhdane”. This party (“Bulgarian voice” – note ed.) presents itself as “patriots for an Orthodox state”. Are these the ones who will represent the Bulgarian Muslims?“, Tonchev also said.
“Bulgarian voice”, the coalition partner of Delyan Peevski, insists that the hunting squads in the border areas with North Macedonia should be converted into squads. The other coalition partner participated in local elections with VMRO, ATAKA and “Volya”, he added.

The “Agricultural People’s Union”, which entered into a coalition with Dogan’s DPS, has a focus on agricultural policy, on small settlements and Bulgarian villages, which are the core of the DPS. That is why they are our coalition partner. If he said that we have ruined Bulgarian agriculture, now he has the opportunity to propose quality legislation and to improve the agricultural policy. It brought us together that the SBOR party – “Fair Bulgaria united patriots“ is a collection of non-governmental organizations. We want to give a voice to the civil society”, commented the deputy close to Ahmed Dogan.
„In the residence in “Boyana” many people have entered. Journalists have gone in there many times over the years. Lists were lined up there, the governing bodies of the party met, trainings were held. The rental contract with DPS is from 2011. The amount is entered in the rental agreement. It is public for everyone”, Valentin Tonchev also said.

175 DAYS of REVIVAL

A Call for Righteousness over Orthodoxy

Bulgarian Socialist Leader Expelled

With over 100 votes at today’s meeting of the National Council of the BSP, they expelled the resigned leader of the party, Kornelia Ninova. She was at the head of the formation for eight years. The decision was supported by 105 votes “for”, 16 “against” and four abstained.

Along with Ninova, Georgi Svilenski, Ivan Chenchev and Krum Donchev were excluded from the left formation. There are seven reasons for the release of Ninova and her three party members. Among the main reasons for their exclusion is non-compliance with the decision from which constituency Ninova and Svilenski should run for parliament.

„ Legally, we are in absolute precedent – a chairman who is expelled from the party but is chairman by court order. Give us time to think about the situation. Our efforts must be aimed at the BSP’s appearance in the elections,” said the resigned leader Ninova. She added that they refused to vote by roll call at the plenum.

Gheorgi Svilenski said that the agenda of the National Council of the party consisted of two points – about the current situation and about the domestic political order. “For the second point, the reasons for imposing punishments on the four should have been read – to Cornelia Ninova, to me, to Ivan Chenchev and to Krum Donchev. There were no reasons for this decision and Zafirov’s answer to Donchev was: “In principle”. Donchev is excluded “in principle”. This decision was made between 65 and 70 people, and people who are not members of the National Council were also present in the hall, Svilenski said, adding that he had asked the presenter Christian Vigenin three times to check the quorum, but he had refused.

In his words, the procedure for Ninova’s exclusion is not the same as the steps for the release of other party members. “She was elected chairman of the party by 57,000 socialists”, he added.

Ninova explained that on the one hand she wants to leave the leadership post, on the other hand her fellow party members want her resignation. “This can only be done in Congress, they refused to call Congress, they refused to let me in. They will keep me here as a hostage to legitimize their iniquities. I have given a power of attorney to Georgi Svilenski and Ivan Chenchev, they will participate in the registration of the lists, she added.

Moscow Hit by Ukrainian Drones

Ukraine has unleashed what was reportedly the heaviest drone attack so far against Moscow. The overnight raid on the Russian capital killed at least one person and caused significant damage and disruption. As is typical for Ukrainian attacks of this kind on targets in Russian territory, there was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Russian officials, however, responded angrily, accusing Ukraine of deliberately attacking civilian areas.

In all, Russia claims that it brought down at least 20 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow region, and 124 more over eight other regions. While these claims cannot be independently verified, available videos posted to social media make clear the fact that this was a significant and sustained attack, with the Moscow region being particularly heavily hit.

At least one person, a 46-year-old woman, was killed in Ramenskoye, near Moscow, according to Russian authorities, when fire engulfed a high-rise residential building, leaving another three people wounded, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov. Meanwhile, 43 people were evacuated to temporary accommodation centers. “Dozens” of homes in the region were reportedly hit.

Several videos show, from very close quarters, a drone impacting a Moscow high-rise building, although it’s unclear if this is the same one that was struck in Ramenskoye.

First Day of School in Bulgaria

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