site.btaNational Assembly Chair Kiselova, President Radev Congratulate New Hegumen of Zograf Monastery, Hieromonk Gabriel

National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova congratulated the new hegumen of the Zographou (Zograf) monastery on Mount Athos, Hieromonk Gabriel, said the parliamentary press centre on Tuesday.

“The high trust that you enjoy among the brotherhood of the Zograf monastery is a great recognition of your personal and moral qualities. I believe that you will be able to turn it into charitable deeds in the name of faith and the preservation of Bulgarian Christian holy places,” noted the National Assembly Chair.

“With deep respect, I extend to you warm wishes for good health, spiritual joy and strength for successful service as hegumen of one of the spiritual holy places of our people,” Kiselova also said.. In her letter, she expressed her personal commitment and empathy for every initiative by the monastery's brotherhood, which aims to preserve the invaluable publications in its library and enrich its rich iconographic treasury.

President Rumen Radev also congratulated Hieromonk Gabriel, the head of State's press office reported.

In his greeting, the President expressed confidence that under the newly elected hegumen, the Zograf Holy Monastery will continue to be a supporter of faith, Orthodox unity and Bulgarian spirituality.

Radev added that in the future the holy monastery will be able to count on the full support of the Bulgarian state for the establishment of the Zograf Monastery as a significant centre of Orthodox monasticism and Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage.

The previous hegumen of the Zograf Monastery, Archimandrite Ambrose, passed away after a brief illness on January 25. He moved to Mount Athos in 1981, and since 1997, he had been the hegumen of the Zograf Monastery. During his tenure, and with his blessing, the Zograf Monastery expanded its cultural and educational activities, publishing hundreds of Orthodox books, hagiographies, patristic literature, and works on contemporary issues, the Bulgarian Patriarchate noted. They added that thanks to the hard work of Ambrose and the monastery's brotherhood, part of the monastery damaged by a severe fire was restored, a new building for pilgrims was constructed, and a new library was established.