During a visit by the Radio Bulgaria team to the Bulgarian Orthodox Parish "Nativity of the Mother of God" in Geneva, we had the pleasure of meeting Ventseslav Sabev, the son of long-time church history professor at the Sofia Theological Seminary, Todor Sabev. In 1979, Professor Sabev was elected Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and held the position for a full 14 years.

His son, Ventseslav Sabev, arrived in Geneva as a child and has lived there ever since. What has kept him connected to his Bulgarian roots and Orthodox Christian faith for more than 45 years in such a multinational and multireligious city?

“I was a child when my parents brought me here”, said Ventseslav Sabev. “I have been able to preserve both my language and my spirituality thanks to the Bulgarian school abroad and church initiatives. In Geneva, there has always been a core group of about ten Bulgarians from different generations who believe that what matters is not political circumstances or economic opportunities, but having church services in Bulgarian whenever there is a major holiday.”

According to Ventseslav Sabev, an important prerequisite for establishing a church community is having a critical mass of committed individuals willing to invest their personal time and effort in building it. This became possible about ten years ago, when more Bulgarians began to settle and work in Geneva and the surrounding area. He notes that today there are nearly 3,500 Bulgarians living in Geneva and its surroundings.

The most important factor is the clergyman, who plays a unifying role within a church community. It depends on his personality whether he will be able to bring together and unite our fellow Bulgarians or not.

In Geneva, this synergy between the Bulgarian Church, represented by the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of Western and Central Europe, the necessary number of people interested in building a church community, the Bulgarian school, and the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations was achieved a few years ago. Ventseslav Sabev notes that it was through their collective will that this long-cherished idea became a reality. Despite the challenges, today the Bulgarian Orthodox Parish "Nativity of the Mother of God" is a fact.

“Of course, it’s not always easy. People are busy with other duties as well. Some begin to give up when the first problems arise. Conflicts also arise, but the important thing is that this core group is established. I think today there are about 50 to 60 of us who are committed to the community”, said Ventseslav Sabev.

Geneva is the global center for many key international organizations, where the UN’s sustainable development goals are addressed. The fact that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has a legal presence there is very important. When a dialogue on a particular topic is taking place, our church community in Geneva has the opportunity to follow the discussions and express the position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Although, as an advisor to non-governmental organizations, universities and academic institutions in Switzerland, the Middle East and Central Asia, Ventseslav Sabev works primarily on institutional dialogue, he emphasizes: “When we talk about dialogue, we must remember that institutions can find it difficult to communicate. But when people start talking, when souls connect and people embrace each other, things happen.”

For Ventseslav Sabev, church life in Bulgarian Orthodox communities abroad gives our compatriots something that no other organization or form of social activity can offer – the opportunity to pray together and participate in religious services together.

“I see in the spiritual fellowship among Bulgarians a real need to be together and to see each other. But there’s a difference between meeting a friend for coffee and being able to pray together. The energy is entirely different, and so is the upbringing we give our children”, said Ventseslav Sabev and clarified that our language and script, our history and Orthodox faith unite us as Bulgarians, while at the same time keeping our hearts open to other peoples and cultures.

“I personally always look for bridges, the things that connect us, not the elements that divide us”, said Ventseslav Sabev. “Every believer, whatever their faith, is an ambassador of goodness. When we believe in God, we carry a message of peace, understanding, friendship and love’’, concluded Ventseslav Sabev.

Photos: Aleksandra Karamihaleva