site.btaMetropolitan Anthony to Lead First Bulgarian Orthodox Easter Service in Ireland

For the first time on Easter, Bulgarians in Ireland will gather for a church service, as there is currently no Bulgarian Orthodox mission or parish in the country, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe told BTA. He will be officiating at the Bulgarian-language service on April 12 at 10:30 a.m. local time at All Hallows Chapel on the DCU Campus in Dublin.

The initiative for the Easter service came from Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Ireland, Vanya Andreeva-Malakova. "Over six months ago, she contacted the Metropolitanate in Berlin with the wish - shared by herself and the Bulgarian community - to hold a service in Bulgarian in Dublin on one of the major feasts of the Church. We agreed that Easter, the greatest feast for all Christians, would be the perfect occasion," Metropolitan Anthony explained.

At the service, Bulgarians will hear the traditional Paschal greeting, the message of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and participate in the Divine Service, celebrating together the feast of feasts.

Metropolitan Anthony described the event as historic and said it could be the first step toward establishing a permanent Bulgarian Orthodox community in Dublin. "Over ten years ago, when I visited Ireland as a vicar bishop, attempts to create a lasting parish did not succeed. We now hope that this time it will," he said.

He emphasized that the future of a regular parish depends entirely on the local Bulgarian community - their faith, commitment, and recognition of the need to maintain spiritual life while living abroad. A permanent parish would require a dedicated priest and a venue for weekly Sunday liturgies.

If the community expresses a desire to establish a parish, the Western and Central European Metropolitanate in Berlin will coordinate with the Archbishop of Dublin to secure a permanent location for Bulgarian-language services, starting with the upcoming Easter service on April 12. 

A delegation from Bulgaria will attend the Easter service on April 12, including Kiril Valchev, Milen Mitev and Milena Milotinova, the directors general of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television, respectively. The Bulgarian quartet Svetoglas - The Mystery of Bulgarian Polyphony will be performing during the service.