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Mel Gibson honors ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Bulgarian star Christo Jivkov after his death at 48

Hristo Zhivkov, 48, died April 1 2023.
Photo: Facebook/unionofactorsbg

Mel Gibson has expressed his condolences for Hristo Zhivkov, one of the stars of Gibson's 2004 hit film "The Passion of the Christ". 

Hristo Zhivkov, 48, died April 1 in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer. 

“My dear friend Christo has lost his heroic battle with cancer. Right to the last moment he was filled with hope and his spirit was strong,” Gibson said. “I'll miss him but I know his suffering is over and he has eternal bliss. God keep him," the actor wrote in a statement. 

Jivkov starred as John the Apostle in Gibson’s epic "The Passion of the Christ," alongside Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ and Italian star Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. 

Gibson, who produced, directed and co-wrote the film, has kept in touch with the Bulgarian for 19 years and the two have not lost hope that there will be a sequel.

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Radio Bulgaria Culture    condolences Hristo Zhivkov Mel Gibson The Passion of the Christ

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