What was created by priest Alexander Cikirik in Edirne is bearing fruit

Maria and Georgi Cikirik will continue to unite the communities in Edirne Thrace in the Bulgarian spiritual center

published on 3/27/24 4:00 PM

Alexander Cikirik

Photo: BGNES

Immediately before the outbreak of the Balkan War 1912-1913, the Bulgarians living in the region of Edirne Thrace numbered 410,724 people, according to the information of the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. With the capture of the Edirne fortress on March 26, 1913, the territories with a Bulgarian population were freed from Ottoman rule, but not for long. In June, Turkey regained Edirne Thrace again, where a brutal fight with the Bulgarians begins, some of whom manage to escaped to Bulgaria, while others perished.

In Bulgaria 26 March is Thrace Day

Today, a reminder of the former Bulgarian lands are two churches - Metropolitan church of St. St. Constantine and Elena and the church of St. George the Victorious in Edirne, and the Bulgarian community center "Prosveta" and the Bulgarian Sunday school "Ivan Vazov" unite the Bulgarian community from Edirne Thrace. The Bulgarian community center, which has become a spiritual center of people of different faiths, but with Bulgarian roots, is housed in a small building near the church of St. George the Victorious. The school is also next door, on the first floor of a building next to the church.

Until only a year one ago the parish and the community was looked after by Father Alexander Cikirik, a hereditary Bulgarian who inherited the love for God and people from his father Filip Cikirik also a priest.

With his dedicated patriotic activity, Father Alexander contributed a lot to the strengthening and maintenance of friendly and good-neighborly relations between Bulgaria and Turkey. Because of his great merits for the preservation of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage, he was awarded in February this year with the Order of St. Cyril and Methodius - first degree by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev. His sudden death shook all Thracians, but what he built remains:‎

"A great loss, a loss for the family, a great loss for Bulgaria and a great loss for Turkey," said his wife Maria Cikirik with pain in an interview for Radio Bulgaria. "Father Alexander was a philanthropist. He loved people very much, he helped everyone, no matter who they were. He left this world very unexpectedly. God rest his soul. We try as much as possible to maintain what he started. It's really hard because he was the driving force behind it all. He wanted the church to flourish, he wanted to strengthen good relations between people and to be a bridge, as everyone says. He wanted to have cultural ‎events and we continue what he started."‎

Remembering Father Alexander: Guardian of the Bulgarian Temples and the Spirit in Edirne

After the death of Father Alexander, Presbyter Maria received great support both from the Thracian societies and from the Bulgarian side in the person of Vice President Iliana Iotova:‎

"I just didn't expect such support from the many people he communicated with. People who have just met him are also looking for him and crying. Now here among us is a young boy who, thanks to Father Alexander, managed to find a job, get settled and take care of his mother. That's how he is, regardless of who professes what religion, he cared for everyone and we try to help as much as we can. We care for other people who are in need and we will continue as much as possible. Many thanks to the Bulgarian and Turkish states, as well as to the Bulgarian and Turkish citizens who support us."

As for the Bulgarian churches in Edirne - there Father Alexander took care to leave his worthy deputy in the service of God:‎

"Personally, since I was a child, because I grew up next to the church and loved God even more," noted Father Alexander's son Georgi. "My good parents showed me the goodness of life through the church. Before that, my grandfather was in charge of the church here as much as he could. He opened it, although it was in such a bad condition, he tried with his own means to strengthen and preserve it. Then he asked my father to go and enroll in the seminary to become a priest and come here, to be able to serve and to fix both churches. Therefore, the service of God has always been close to my heart. And as soon as possible I would like to come here in my father's place ‎to replace him already officially. I will be happy - it was his dream and God grant that I will be able to realize it."‎

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Photos: BTA, BGNES, General consulate in Edirne

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