site.btaRole of Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Rescue of Bulgarian Jews during WWII Discussed at Fordham University

The role of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War Two was discussed last week at Fordham University in New York during an event organized by the university's Orthodox Christian Studies Centers, in collaboration with its Center for Jewish Studies and the Institute for Balkan Studies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Fordham University said. 

Entitled “The ‘Righteous Gentiles’ of Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews (1940-45),” the seminar attracted distinguished scholars and students. The spotlight was on the writings of Metropolitan Stefan, as his personal archives are being published for the first time, as well as the role and influence of the clergy, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and prominent figures within the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Among the panelists were Prof. Roumiana Preshlenova, Director of the Institute for Balkan Studies with the Center of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Stamenka Antonova, a historian at the Institute for Balkan Studies, Prof. Joseph Benatov, Associate Director of the Jewish Studies Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Michael G. Azar, Associate Professor of Theology/Religious Studies at the University of Scranton. Faculty members, students from Fordham University, and Angel Angelov, Consul General of Bulgaria in New York, actively engaged in the discussion, the University said.

In their words, this seminar "offered a unique opportunity to gain profound insights into the courageous efforts of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church during a contentious period in 20th-century history, revealing untold stories of heroism and compassion".