We started out at 6:30 in the morning. This particular time of day and I normally do not get along but I managed to be ready on time with what I hope was a pleasant look on my face when they pulled up in their little green car. These particular churches were about a 2-3 hour drive away so we were gone the majority of the day and spent most of that time in the car. It was worth it, however, as the monasteries were beautiful, interesting, and unique.
I went with my friend, Marietta, and her family and at each church they seemed to pay particular attention to her: wrapping her in special fabric, having the head priest pray over her, lighting candles in her honor. At one point I asked Marietta, “Why are we visiting these churches today? Is it because you’re getting married soon.”
She told me that no, it was because she was sick. She has, what I’ve gathered, to be some kind of thyroid disorder and it flared up that weekend, preventing them from taking their long-awaited vacation to the Black Sea. They went to these monasteries to pray for healing. When I found this out, I made sure to light a candle and say a pray for my new friend.
The first monastery was very large and extremely beautiful. Inside, a church service was just ending and a group of priests and nuns were half-singing, half-chanting in a way that was really entrancing. The echo of their voices as they flowed in and out of one another’s gave an eerie yet powerful mood to the darkened church and the women in the front row, swaying with ardent prayers made me feel as though I’d stepped into another century. It was fascinating.
We then stood in line to take communion. I noticed that everyone before me took the bread before kissing the priest's hand and stepping off to the side to eat. I did the same, feeling very strange at having kissed the hand of a stranger but I also felt blessed to be able to participate in something so special and unfamiliar.
Most people in Bulgaria are Orthodox Christians though many of them do not go to church excepting major religious holidays. My small village has a regular church service every Sunday which seems quite rare though most of the habitual members are elderly women. When a priest at one of the monasteries asked me what religion I identified with Marietta’s mother, Marianna, quickly answered that I was an Orthodox Christian. I told him that, no, I was not Orthodox though I was a Christian. Marietta’s mother told me that there is only Orthodox and Catholicism so I must be Orthodox if I am not Catholic. The priest explained to her that there are actually many Christian denominations and then asked me again, which I claim to be. I told him I was Non-Denominational. He looked confused. I said that I had no denomination, that I didn’t identify with any of the one’s he listed. He had not heard of this before but seemed to accept it with little concern for my soul.
I may visit the church in my village next Sunday. Though I’m sure I won’t understand a word that’s being said, it’ll be nice to be a part of a fellowship again. Not to mention, making friends with baba’s is always a good idea.
These are pictures from the first monastery and it was by far the most beautiful and impressive
Marietta and I
Some handcarved souvenirs and the artist at work in the background
I didn't confess my sins nor did I realize that it was a practice among any religions other than Catholicism
These are the pews
You can purchase candles for 20 stotinki, 50 stotinki, or 1 lev.
This is a wall to honor and remember the dead. Candles are put in the ground when they represent prayers for family and friends that have passed away. Also gifts are left such as flowers, food, and even...
Their favorite beverage
This was the second monastery
We took a picture with the very friendly priest who I confused with my lack of denomation
This was the third monastery, tucked high up into the mountains
At some point, when I was buying a candle, I dropped a lev on the ground and it rolled all the way to the front of this carving. Marietta told me that it meant I should leave the lev in front of this carving, you know, if I wanted. How could I refuse? So that's my lev on the top.
-Age
