Church News: Meet with Bulgarian leader

[joelconte]

Meet with Bulgarian leader
LDS Church News
February 10th, 2007

SOFIA, Bulgaria — President Blair S. Bennett of the Bulgaria Sofia Mission and his wife, Sister Mary Jane Bennett, met with Matei Iliev, Councilor of Religious Affairs to President Georgi Parvanov of the Republic of Bulgaria, on Jan. 30.

During the meeting in the presidential palace, President Bennett delivered a congratulatory letter from President Gordon B. Hinckley to President Parvanov upon his re-election to a second presidential term. The letter, said Councilor Iliev, would be delivered to President Parvanov upon his return from abroad.

Councilor Iliev recounted the history of Bulgaria and the events that have led to religious tolerance in the country and noted the presence of many faiths in the center of the capital city of Sofia, including an LDS meetinghouse. Councilor Iliev explained that President Parvanov, a historian by education, has a great appreciation for religious freedom and its importance in shaping the destiny of a nation. Bulgarian law now grants its citizens freedom of religious choice.

President Bennett presented copies of Church scriptures to the Presidential library, along with other printed materials about the Church's doctrines and history. He emphasized that the Church is in the country to serve the people of Bulgaria.

[Richard Davies]

Wow! That's awesome news. The Church's relationship with Bulgaria sure has come a long way in the last ten years. It wasn't that long ago when they where still trying to kick us out.

It's nice to know that President Hinckley and Church officials give individual attention to the various leaders of even the smaller countries.

[joelconte]

Tell me more about the LDS meetinghouse in Bulgaria.  When I was there in 94 and 95, we rented out a few public places, one was a bar and another a hotel.  Also, I'd like to see pictures of this new place. 

Also, what happened to the old mission home on ul. Tsar Boris III No. 94?  Before I left the mission, there was construction on a new apartment home for the mission president.  Did that ever come to completion?  Where is the new mission home?

[Blindspot]

In the intervening years I'm not sure what happened to the old mission home.  I can tell you that it is now a restaurant...and not a very good one from what I'm told.  The new mission home is located on Marin Drinov Street which is not too far from Sofia University, the National Library, and Levski Monument.  It's in the "Embassy" area of Sofia.  As a matter of fact, from what I hear it used to be the Cuban Embassy.  The Mission Home and office are on the second floor, while the first floor and basement are meeting place for a couple of branches in Sofia (most notably Geo Milev and Hadji Dimitur).

The only original building, built from the ground up as a chapel, is the building in Plovdiv.  Lyulin branch recently got a new building (leased I think) which has gone under major renovation to be useful as a Church building.  Mladost will also get their own building soon in similar fashion.

I'll send pics when I get a chance.

[benclawson]

That is very interesting.  Does anybody know where the Varna Branch currently meets?  We used to meet in the Dom Na Transportnite Rabotnitsi, right under the "Black Cat" night club.

[Brinton]

It almost brings tears to my eyes to hear that the mission president is meeting with the government in a friendly setting!  When I was there we went to the border every 3 weeks and hoped that they would let us back in, and the only meetings anyone had with the government were at cattle call, or if Big Ed had to come bail us out of jail. Then there were all those times we had to dodge garbage being thrown at us, people chasing us away and generally running for our lives.  What a difference a decade makes.  It's just nice to see the progress that so many of us worked hard to create has finally come.   I just love those crazy Bulgarians!