On March 23, 2024, with the support of "Izvor", the first celebration in the Bulgarian language in Antwerp took place in the Chapel "Holy Name Jesus", led by Priest Stoyan Berbatov, officiating in Hasselt, together with Priest Nikolay Nikolov, officiating in Cologne.

After the celebration, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Mission in Antwerp was established and a Board was elected. The name of the Mission is “Saint Zlata of Maglen” – the Bulgarian Holy Great Martyr Zlata who lived in the eighteenth century in the village of Slatina, Diocese of Maglen.

The Great Martyr Saint Zlata of Maglen is considered a patron saint of all Bulgarians living abroad.

The official opening of the Mission took place on April 20, 2024 in the Chapel "Holy Name Jesus" in Wilrijk, Antwerp. Guests from the Catholic community were invited and the event was attended by the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Belgium, Mr. Plamen Bonchev, and the Consul, Mr. Malin Mesalski.

For more details and to keep up to date with all the news from the Mission, please follow the FB group "Bulgarian Orthodox Church Mission "H. Zlata van Maglen", Antwerp".

Official opening of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Mission "H. Zlata of Maglen" in Antwerp on 20/04/2024

Photo: Viktoria Marinova