Innovative practices in Bulgaria
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The Activity of "Pokrov Bogorodichen" Parish Centre
Parish Center<br> "Pokrov Bogorodichen" Foundation
Background
The idea of establishing a parish center emerged in 1993-1994 when the first efforts started to revive the traditions of parish life in the Pokrov Bogorodichen Church in Sofia. The realization of the idea became possible after the establishment and registration of Pokrov Bogorodichen Foundation in 1995-1996. With the blessing of the Coadjutor of the Right Reverend Sofia metropolitan bishop and Bulgarian Patriarch Maksim, bishop Gavriil, with the active participation of the parish priests, under the spiritual guidance of arch priest Nikolai, chief church warden, a project was prepared for reconstruction and equipment of the existing storage premises of the church and their adjusting to the needs of the anticipated parish activity.
The idea of establishing a parish center emerged in 1993-1994 when the first efforts started to revive the traditions of parish life in the Pokrov Bogorodichen Church in Sofia. The realization of the idea became possible after the establishment and registration of Pokrov Bogorodichen Foundation in 1995-1996. With the blessing of the Coadjutor of the Right Reverend Sofia metropolitan bishop and Bulgarian Patriarch Maksim, bishop Gavriil, with the active participation of the parish priests, under the spiritual guidance of arch priest Nikolai, chief church warden, a project was prepared for reconstruction and equipment of the existing storage premises of the church and their adjusting to the needs of the anticipated parish activity.
Practice
The project was partially promoted by the German endowment organization Diakonisches Werk, by private donors - orthodox Christians from Western Europe and donors from Bulgaria. With the funding received about 50% of the total area was reconstructed and equipped. In the beginning of 1999 the Center was supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations for Central and Eastern Europe, which made possible the reconstruction of the whole premises. Since October 1, 1999 when the official opening of the Pokrov Bogorodichen Parish Center took place, the center started active operation on its main programs: Parish Life, Social Deacony, Education and Culture, and Art.
The fulfillment of this mission is implemented in many different ways. The religious educational program of the Parish Center has set as a main goal the involving of many more people in the life of the Church and in the entire life of the parish through religious enlightenment, education and training. The program includes schools for applied arts on the one hand: icon painting; woodcarving; wall painting and mosaic, and the courses connected directly with church life on the other hand: religion and Slavonic church chants. The educational program of the Parish Center also pays attention to the youngest in the orthodox day nursery.
The religious instruction course aims at acquainting with the basic principles of faith, as well as involving people in church life. At the same time the courses of Slavonic church chants give the possibility for practicable participation of parishioners in the divine service.
The common work of supervisor and student helped children s involvement in Christianity. The classes of native language and mathematics are followed by religious studies, and the icon in the children s room is placed next to Lego boxes, toys and puppets. The main principles in the orthodox day nursery are the respect towards the personality and talent of every child and the individual approach in the work with them.
The goal of the Parish Life Program is to create a community and to consolidate parish life, as well as to involve young people in parish life. The Culture and Arts Program at the Parish Center aims at developing a taste for art and in particular for Christian art as an indirect manifestation of orthodox enlightenment.
Social Deacony is a program whose main purpose is to create a natural environment for social communication and for rendering assistance to people in need in response to the call for charity and love towards the fellow man. The main activity is to collect information about different institutions and organizations which provide assistance (financial and consultative) on different occasions; giving individual support by directing people to these institutions and/or collecting and giving humanitarian aid and financial resources. Under the program scholarships were granted for the education of orphans and children from low-income families in the schools at the Parish Center. Work with orphans holds a key position in the Deacony Program. The Parish Center keeps in contact with P. R. Slaveikov Orphans Home, Sofia (the former Ran Bosilek Home) and the Zdravetz Orphans Home, Ugarchin, to which it contributes humanitarian and moral assistance. Camps are organized in the center, in which orphans and children from disadvantaged families take part, with the main purpose of socializing the orphans.
The project was partially promoted by the German endowment organization Diakonisches Werk, by private donors - orthodox Christians from Western Europe and donors from Bulgaria. With the funding received about 50% of the total area was reconstructed and equipped. In the beginning of 1999 the Center was supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations for Central and Eastern Europe, which made possible the reconstruction of the whole premises. Since October 1, 1999 when the official opening of the Pokrov Bogorodichen Parish Center took place, the center started active operation on its main programs: Parish Life, Social Deacony, Education and Culture, and Art.
The fulfillment of this mission is implemented in many different ways. The religious educational program of the Parish Center has set as a main goal the involving of many more people in the life of the Church and in the entire life of the parish through religious enlightenment, education and training. The program includes schools for applied arts on the one hand: icon painting; woodcarving; wall painting and mosaic, and the courses connected directly with church life on the other hand: religion and Slavonic church chants. The educational program of the Parish Center also pays attention to the youngest in the orthodox day nursery.
The religious instruction course aims at acquainting with the basic principles of faith, as well as involving people in church life. At the same time the courses of Slavonic church chants give the possibility for practicable participation of parishioners in the divine service.
The common work of supervisor and student helped children s involvement in Christianity. The classes of native language and mathematics are followed by religious studies, and the icon in the children s room is placed next to Lego boxes, toys and puppets. The main principles in the orthodox day nursery are the respect towards the personality and talent of every child and the individual approach in the work with them.
The goal of the Parish Life Program is to create a community and to consolidate parish life, as well as to involve young people in parish life. The Culture and Arts Program at the Parish Center aims at developing a taste for art and in particular for Christian art as an indirect manifestation of orthodox enlightenment.
Social Deacony is a program whose main purpose is to create a natural environment for social communication and for rendering assistance to people in need in response to the call for charity and love towards the fellow man. The main activity is to collect information about different institutions and organizations which provide assistance (financial and consultative) on different occasions; giving individual support by directing people to these institutions and/or collecting and giving humanitarian aid and financial resources. Under the program scholarships were granted for the education of orphans and children from low-income families in the schools at the Parish Center. Work with orphans holds a key position in the Deacony Program. The Parish Center keeps in contact with P. R. Slaveikov Orphans Home, Sofia (the former Ran Bosilek Home) and the Zdravetz Orphans Home, Ugarchin, to which it contributes humanitarian and moral assistance. Camps are organized in the center, in which orphans and children from disadvantaged families take part, with the main purpose of socializing the orphans.
Results
A working model of parish activity was created in four main areas: Religious Educational Program, Parish Life, Culture and Arts and Social Deacony. This experience could be shared with orthodox confraternities, church councils, different orthodox organizations and the Church as a whole in different forms of education and exchange of experience.
A working model of parish activity was created in four main areas: Religious Educational Program, Parish Life, Culture and Arts and Social Deacony. This experience could be shared with orthodox confraternities, church councils, different orthodox organizations and the Church as a whole in different forms of education and exchange of experience.
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