How do Bulgarian compatriots celebrate the Nativity of Christ abroad, where sometimes you have to travel many kilometers to reach an Orthodox church... There are Bulgarian church communities across Europe and America. In France, for example, the Bulgarian Orthodox parish "Saint Euthymius of Tarnovo" was founded in 1981 in the Russian church "Three Saints" in Paris, thanks to 67 Bulgarians who gathered for its establishment. The parish was blessed by Metropolitan Simeon, who was then the Vicar of the Bulgarian Patriarch for Western Europe. The Bulgarian church there has had its parish priest since 1985. Priest Petar Simeonov, who served until 2002 is responsible for the entire Bulgarian Orthodox community in France.

With the blessing of Father Simeon and the cooperation of many people, two more communities were established - in Strasbourg and Lyon. After a new priest was sent to Paris in 2002, Petar Simeonov focused his efforts on the new parishes. Later, another community emerged in Lille, which, according to the priest, has been growing. At the moment, preparation for the Nativity of Christ continues there.

"I was very pleasantly surprised by the efforts of the teachers in the Bulgarian school,” Priest Petar Simeonov says in a special interview with Radio Bulgaria. “I even attended the making of survachki. There were 250 or 300 people from different schools and associations. The municipality of Lille had provided a large hall for the event. There were workshops for making various items that enhanced the pre-Christmas atmosphere. In the end, of course, we grabbed the attention with our Bulgarian dances. I was very pleased. I stayed there for 5 or six hours and talked with the children and with other people, French people, representatives of other religions. I have no difficulty in having a conversation with anyone at any level thanks to God. I don't want to stand out, but only to point out the grace of God that I use to meet interesting people who enrich me and motivate me to do something good, according to my humble powers.”

The Orthodox priest has shared the entire festive program on his Facebook page to inform everyone who wants to participate in the celebration of the Nativity of Christ:

"Everyone is welcome," he says. “We have to look for our members of the community. Our preparation is very different from that in Bulgaria. We must find ways, forms and means, to maintain regular contact via the Internet, by telephone. We need to remind, to invite. This is the mission of the church. We do not oblige anyone. The bell is ringing, whoever hears it will direct their steps to the temple of God. Few hear the bell ringing but an awakening can be felt, even in France, which is a very secular country. France is not a religious country in the way that Italy and Spain are, but it has a cultured and respectful attitude towards the institution," the Bulgarian priest says.

At the end of our conversation, he wishes us to look for the things that can motivate and inspire us and to keep presence of mind in all circumstances of life.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” the priest recalls Christ’s words and adds: “With best prayer wishes to all our compatriots at home and abroad, with gratitude to God for His great mercy, let us enter into the fullness of the Christmas holiday and strive to be useful to everyone, according to our modest possibilities. Let's open our hearts so that Christ is born again in our souls and hearts, and he constantly rejoices, as long as we want, as long as we seek Him.”

Photos: personal archive