Vatican – Poland – Bulgaria

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Resurrectionist mission in Bulgaria, an international scientific conference was held on October 24, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Sofia in cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 11 speakers representing academic circles from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Polish Academy of Sciences, the John Paul II University in Krakow, and Centro “Aletti” in Rome presented their papers. The guests (over 100 people attended the event) were welcomed by the Polish Ambassador Prof. Leszek Hensel. Addresses to the participants were also made by the Father General and Prof. Ilia Todev, chairman of the Institute for Historical Studies at BAS. The topics of the presentations concerned the mutual relations between the Vatican, Poland, and Bulgaria. The Resurrectionists also played an important role in building these relationships. Prof. Lilla Moroz-Grzelak spoke about the category of Slavic identity in the Bulgarian mission of the Resurrectionists; Dr. Wojciech Jóźwiak presented the informational and publishing activities of our institution in Adrianople; Prof. Ljubomir Georgiev presented the educational activities of Bulgarians in Edirne and the role played by the Resurrectionists; Prof. Svetlozar Eldyrov discussed the issue of the Bulgarian Union and the contribution of Polish Resurrectionists to it. The lecture by Fr. Prof. Stefan Koperek titled "The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom as a Hymn and Source of Love" and the reflections of Fr. Lucjan Bartkowiak on the icon of Christ's Descent into Hell were listened to with great interest. The conference was also accompanied by a film screening titled "Vatican", a photo exhibition dedicated to the Bulgarian Mission, and the promotion of the book by Fr. Michail Kupen titled "Записки за мисията на отците вьзкесенци в Малко Търново" (notes from the mission of the Resurrectionist fathers in Malko Tarnovo). The author came from Malko Tarnovo and was one of the alumni of our college.