A small journey to Obrochishte and Batovo
villages
Thanks to Ceco (a young orthodox friend of mine, a really cool
guy), we made a nice quick organized journey to Obrotishte. The
main purpose of the trip was to go to a liturgy to the Church there
in Obrotishte and also to visit the Hieromonk Philip (Filip) who is
at the present moment priest in the Church there. Father Philip is
a really interesting monk, he is currently 28. As most people could
understand it's really unusual this days for someone to become a
monk, it's even more unusual for somebody to become a monk in such
a young age. Father Philip has been a monk in
Troyan
Monastery which presently is among the largest operating
monasteries at the moment in Bulgaria. Father Filips is a wonderful
person, the church service started a bit later than usual in around
09:20 in the morning, what struck me was that the whole service was
held in plain understandable modern Bulgarian language, that shined
some light (understanding) on the liturgy and was possibly better
than in Church Slavonic language, which is hardly understandable
for us Bulgarians in the present age. Another good thing I loved
about the service, that Father Filip led the liturgy and
accomplised all the priest prayers and entreats in a slow
understandable way. Seems like the young monk and a father is a
real church father, because he was absolutely kind and loving to me
Ceco and Rumiana (a christian girl we picked up from another
village before we went to the service in Batovo). Another kind
thing from Father Filip was that he refused to get any money for
writting some names which are usually mentioned on the next liturgy
in front of God on the Holy Altar, for the living (that God
forgives their sins, and grants them good health, and success in
their works) and for the dead (For God to forgive their sins and
remember them in it's kingdom). After the wonderful Church service
we get into Ceco's car with Father Filip and went and had a nice
evening and had a nice lunch in a small restaurant in one of the
nearby villages to Obrochishte. We also had a nice talk with the
father and with Ceco about different things concerning our
christian orthodox faith and other spiritual talks. I'm thankful to
God for granting me such a wonderful day. After the nice lunch
time, we went to Batovo (A village situated North-East in
Dobrudja's region). Batovo is famous with Batovo's river which
flows directly through the village, another thing to see in the
village is a holy spring, some nice woods. The village itself is
also a nice place to be. They have two springing water fountains
one of which seems to be built up from communists during the
communist atheist regime in Bulgaria. It's a real miracle
evidencing God's disapproval for the communists because soon after
the springing fountain has been built by the communists it run dry.
Hieromonk Philip has prayed near the dried up fountain to God, that
God gives his blessing from heaven and allows this dried up water
spring to become a springing one that would be a springing place
from now on unto the ages of ages. After that we moved on to the
center of Batovo's village where we met a nice gypsy family (romi
as we call them in Bulgaria), it was an interesting thing that this
people were deeply religious. They had a deep hunger for God they
shared that they do attend both evangelical and orthodox church to
light up candles or pray and they don't understand the difference.
Father Philip has briefly explained the difference and explained
the importance to attend the true church of our Lord Jesus Christ
which is the orthodox church and told them if the guys have more
questions they could go anytime to the Church in Obrochishte and he
would answer them as many questions relating faith as he could. The
discussions between the monk me, Ceco, Rumiana and the father was a
real blessings, Praise the Lord! However all isn't perfect and life
is far away from bed of roses. On our way back while we were
traveling with Ceco and Rumiana my aunt called to inform me my
grandma is having difficulties with her speaking (which as she said
could be caused by a heart strike... That struck me light a
lightining from a blue sky... I got desperated, thanksfully Rumiana
and Ceco probably prayed for me and my grandma because presently
she is a bit better. Still we have to see how my beloved grandma
would be tomorrow after she has a sleep. I'm really concerned for
her because she is one of the people that cares for me the most in
this life. She loves we like she loves her soul, the same strange
love that Jonahattan and David shared in the story told in our Old
Testament. I and guess we the christians should learn from my
grandmother's godliness and christian life. She is one of the few
that possesses God this days, as she is saying often she is ready
to give her soul for me just like our Lord Jesus Christ has loved
us so much that he gave his life for us the sinners ... I just hope
and pray that God hears my and my christian fellow mate prayers and
grant my grandma good health! Thanks to God for everything! Just to
clause the post I have to mention my big thanks to Lily and Plamen
a friends of mine who sustained me this two days with care, talks
and prayers. I just pray God helps them the same as they had helped
me!