Father Genadiy Martinov is a Bessarabian Bulgarian, born in the village of Devetliy, Odessa province (Ukraine). Two centuries ago, his family lived in Eastern Thrace, near Edirne, but after the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829), during a period of mass migration, his ancestors resettled in Bessarabia. Since then, Bulgaria has remained in the innermost part of their hearts, strengthening their Bulgarian spirit from generation to generation. Even without seeing it – it is the holiest land, the one they all cherish and speak of with reverence. For Father Genadiy, "Bulgaria is something extraordinary, something wondrous and bright" – it is the root of his heart, of his blood.

At the age of 28, God changed his fate in such a way that he discovered the power of Christian faith, which heals and works miracles. After his son was miraculously healed from an incurable illness through prayer, he dedicated his life to serving God. As a priest, he began to pray for the sick and suffering, to save human souls and to build a Church made of living people. "Where warmth remains, where hope endures, where faith appears – that is where a person’s life changes, and that’s where I am. This is what matters to me", says Father Genadiy.

With fatherly care and love, the priest turned many towards God and established a soup kitchen for the poor at the church "Holy Mother of God – Joy of All Who Sorrow" in the town of Artsyz, of which he is the pastor. He draws inspiration from the example of St. John of Kronstadt, who revealed the inner world of the human being, the complexity of their interactions with society, and where faith can be of true benefit.

"A person is naturally inclined to learn a certain profession, has a hobby of some sort and has no desire to broaden their horizons any further. Faith, however, requires some effort, attention, persistence and curiosity. And then other areas that previously didn’t interest you begin to attract your attention. Faith is precisely that: something a person must delve into, pay attention to, and activate other ‘receptors’ that inspire them for something different from the usual. To inspire someone to follow a good example, you need to know what they love and what is easier for them to do. Following these principles, St. John of Kronstadt founded his House of Diligence and Mercy, where he managed to gather poor children and the wives of Kronstadt’s criminals to develop their talents in handicrafts instead of stealing and begging. Thus, around the Church, besides the liturgical activities, there also appeared people who, with their abilities and gifts, also serve the Church and its mission of caring for society", said father Ganadiy.

• St. John of Rila and St. John of Kronstadt – two great saints united in love for people

Father Genadiy embarked on fulfilling this social mission of the Church after he had the chance to visit Bulgaria. In his ancestral homeland, he was impressed by the history from the first millennium and the solid foundations of cooperation between the Bulgarian state and the Church. According to Father Genadiy, building a spiritual bridge between the Church and secular authority is no easy task, because they are two completely different institutions. Each has its own structure, canons and laws, and for there to be harmony between them, there must first be human will. 

It is precisely this spiritual bridge that is embedded in Father Genadiy’s project 'The Great Basilica – from Pliska to Artsyz', which is intended to connect Bulgaria and the Bessarabian Bulgarians within the Brotherhood House he envisioned.

''I really needed a more neutral space in the churchyard, and the basilica provides that opportunity'', explains Father Genadiy. “It is the most enduring architectural form from antiquity to the present day, so I thought, why not recreate it?”,  Father Genadiy went on to say.

Construction in the town of Artsyz began in 2011 on a 14-acre plot. There, with voluntary labor and donations, Bessarabian Bulgarians from the surrounding areas are recreating the basilicas of the ancient Bulgarian cities of Nesebar and Pliska, incorporating architectural elements from the temples of Preslav and Veliko Tarnovo.
The complex, now about 70% complete, features a church with an atrium, a rotunda with a baptistery, a house of mercy, a museum of the Old Testament, kitchens, shelters for the homeless, craft workshops, a school and residences.

Funding also comes from Bulgarians who view the future complex as a center of living faith that will strengthen our bonds with the Bessarabian brethren in one large Orthodox family.

Photos: Darina Grigorova; basilica.bg, bessarabiainform.com, besarabia.bg