The Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Berlin: Liturgical Calendar and Historical Mission

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church Community in Berlin expects a series of services in August, with uncertainty still existing regarding the Transfiguration of the Lord liturgy on the 6th. According to information from Father Julian Angelov, the necessary conditions for a full-fledged service are currently lacking.

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ represents a significant event in the earthly life of Jesus Christ. The biblical tradition tells how the Savior ascends Mount Tabor together with the apostles Peter, James, and John. During prayer, Christ undergoes a supernatural transformation - his face shines like the sun, and his clothes become blindingly white. Simultaneously, the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah appear beside him.

The official service schedule includes many important Orthodox holidays. On August 1st, a water blessing will be performed for the beginning of the Dormition Fast, and Father Lyubomir Leontinov will also conduct a prayer for rain and protection of firefighters.

The next liturgical events cover various secular and religious commemorations: on August 3rd - Holy Liturgy for the eighth Sunday after Pentecost, on August 9th - day of Saint Apostle Matthias, on August 10th - liturgy for the ninth Sunday after Pentecost.

Among the most significant August events are the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on the 15th, the liturgy on the 17th for the tenth Sunday after Pentecost, and the memory of Saint John of Rila the Wonderworker on August 18th.

The history of this Orthodox community dates back to March 3, 1992, when a founding assembly was held at the Bulgarian diplomatic representation in Berlin. The official legal registration occurred on October 11, 1993.

Initially, services were held sporadically - only on major holidays and in rented halls near the embassy complex or in Protestant churches. A significant breakthrough occurred in 1998 when the community gained the right to use a church building in the Berlin district of Alt Schöneberg.

A key moment is September 9, 2002 - ten years after its founding, when a contract was signed for using a chapel from the Jerusalem Church Community. On May 29, 2005, after major renovations, the temple was solemnly consecrated and proclaimed cathedral.

Among the leading priests who contributed to the community's development are Lyubomir Leontinov, Julian Angelov, and Tsolo Krivachkov. They played a crucial role in establishing the Bulgarian Orthodox presence in the German capital.

Memorable events include receiving the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in May 2023, as well as marking the twentieth anniversary of the cathedral's consecration.

Today, the "St. Tsar Boris the Baptizer" temple continues to be a spiritual center for the Bulgarian community in Berlin, preserving Orthodox traditions and religious identity far from the homeland.