site.btaTroyan Monastery Celebrates Feast Day, Collected Donations to Go to Mizia Flooding Victims

Sofia, August 15 (BTA) - Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte officiated Friday at a solemn liturgy on the occasion of the feast day of the Dormition of the Virgin monastery near Troyan (Central Bulgaria). Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki attended the service.

Thousands of Orthodox Christians from all parts of Bulgaria and beyond flock to Troyan monastery on August 15 for the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin and pay homage to the icon which has been kept there for centuries there - the famous icon of the Virgin Tricherousa (of the three hands).

The Dormition of the Virgin is one of the 12 major Christian feasts celebrated by both Orthodox and Catholics and Troyan monastery is one of the most revered holy places in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church have jointly organized a charity initiative in support of the victims of the recent floodings in the country. The donations of the people will be provided to the suffering citizens of Mizia (Northwestern Bulgaria).

BRC volunteers with boxes for donations are attending the liturgies and are stationed around the following churches in Sofia: St. Alexander Nevsky, St. Sophia, St. Nedelya and St. George. There are also volunteers in the churches in Vratsa, Gabrovo, Kyustendil, Pleven, Pazardjik, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Haskovo, Rousse, Smolyan, Sliven, Bansko and Gotse Delchev. On Thursday evening Sofia Metropolitanate sent mineral water and disinfectants to Mizia.

The abbot of Troyan monastery, Bishop Sionis of Velic, said for BTA: "The situation in Bulgaria and the world is grave, but what is more terrible is the spiritual crisis in which we have fallen and from which we do not want to come out, having passed into the sphere of basest passions." The abbot sees the only way out in faith, spirituality, true serving of the church and country - principles about which less and less is said but which are alive.

Later, Prime Minister Bliznashki told journalists that an inspection of the condition of potential danger of natural disasters will be made. The idea was born during talks with European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva. "Two European countries have already made such efforts so that we will make longer-term forecasts in order to undertake the relevant measures. We [the caretaker government] have a short term of office, but at least we will launch this initiative," he added.

The situation is extremely grave and resources are limited. The 1 million leva for the flooded areas are intended to cover the preliminary current expenses made by now. The assistance of the European Commission is being sought and the application forms for the first group of flooded areas have been sent. Now an application to the European Solidarity Fund will be sent, Bliznashki said. "We have to show national solidarity as Bulgarians. On this holy day I call on all our compatriots to respond and make donations," he added.
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