With so many happy birthday memories of the night before,
We walked across town to a lecture once more.
Today we heard the religious expertise of Serguey Ivanov at AUBG,
A complex timeline of beliefs and changes in Bulgaria we clearly did see.
Religion is an ideology, a harmony, an expression through contentment and strife,
It is a foundation that shapes all aspects of life.
Thus, by 681 AD Bulgaria’s identity was a bi-cultural system,
Slavic tribes (workers) and Proto-Bulgars (warriors) trusted their gods of thunder, sun and night to guide them.
From the 2nd-8th century Christianity and pagan religions appeared,
But the Slavo-Bulgars persecuted them because their differences they feared.
In the late 800’s the Christians had their chance to rise
But with the Byzantines, the popes and Patriarch Photius there were still struggles in their eyes.
Then a new form of written language SS Cyril (Constantine) and Methodius did invent,
A few changes were made, but for the Slavs the Cyrillic alphabet was meant.
In 1014 the Russian church was introduced by Bulgarian priest John,
But as Bulgaria and Byzantium were ruled by Ottomans the Muslim religion went on.
After 1054 the Byzantine Orthodoxy became the new Bulgarian church,
On the high walls of the churches the icons of saints did perch.
There were even two Patron Saints for the country of Bulgaria,
The female St. Petka and male St. John of Rila.
These icons are symbols, each one telling a story,
Of holy figures or saints in the hearts of people they bring glory.
The trinity is seen in the hands of the art being displayed
Depending on who they are will determine where the icons will be laid.
On either side of the King’s doors will always be the same.
Mary on the left and on the right, Jesus is the name.
As we heard these expert words from our very wise speaker
Our brains were definitely not becoming any weaker!
When the teaching was done we walked together on down,
To The Church of Annunciation in the heart of Old Town.
The building stands with beauty and grace,
As we learned many facts about this spiritual place.
To our own spirituality and personal experiences we tried to connect,
What we learned about the Orthodox Church in relation to other religious sects.
After this great learning experience with our professor was done,
We went to lunch for some delicious food and a little bit o’ fun!
All afternoon most of us spent time on our project or unit,
Many of us “on-the-goers” enjoyed the chance to just sit down and do it.
When our work was done we had excitedly decided to go,
Up the hill, to the restaurant we’d been waiting for…Hotel Christo.
Great friends, great food…the rain didn’t mean the end,
As many of us sat and cheered with a new British friend.
As the night fell, we see our fellow Fulbrighters surely hold the key,
By being such an inspiration on this magnificent journey!
Thank you for such an unforgettable experience!
We walked across town to a lecture once more.
Today we heard the religious expertise of Serguey Ivanov at AUBG,
A complex timeline of beliefs and changes in Bulgaria we clearly did see.
Religion is an ideology, a harmony, an expression through contentment and strife,
It is a foundation that shapes all aspects of life.
Thus, by 681 AD Bulgaria’s identity was a bi-cultural system,
Slavic tribes (workers) and Proto-Bulgars (warriors) trusted their gods of thunder, sun and night to guide them.
From the 2nd-8th century Christianity and pagan religions appeared,
But the Slavo-Bulgars persecuted them because their differences they feared.
In the late 800’s the Christians had their chance to rise
But with the Byzantines, the popes and Patriarch Photius there were still struggles in their eyes.
Then a new form of written language SS Cyril (Constantine) and Methodius did invent,
A few changes were made, but for the Slavs the Cyrillic alphabet was meant.
In 1014 the Russian church was introduced by Bulgarian priest John,
But as Bulgaria and Byzantium were ruled by Ottomans the Muslim religion went on.
After 1054 the Byzantine Orthodoxy became the new Bulgarian church,
On the high walls of the churches the icons of saints did perch.
There were even two Patron Saints for the country of Bulgaria,
The female St. Petka and male St. John of Rila.
These icons are symbols, each one telling a story,
Of holy figures or saints in the hearts of people they bring glory.
The trinity is seen in the hands of the art being displayed
Depending on who they are will determine where the icons will be laid.
On either side of the King’s doors will always be the same.
Mary on the left and on the right, Jesus is the name.
As we heard these expert words from our very wise speaker
Our brains were definitely not becoming any weaker!
When the teaching was done we walked together on down,
To The Church of Annunciation in the heart of Old Town.
The building stands with beauty and grace,
As we learned many facts about this spiritual place.
To our own spirituality and personal experiences we tried to connect,
What we learned about the Orthodox Church in relation to other religious sects.
After this great learning experience with our professor was done,
We went to lunch for some delicious food and a little bit o’ fun!
All afternoon most of us spent time on our project or unit,
Many of us “on-the-goers” enjoyed the chance to just sit down and do it.
When our work was done we had excitedly decided to go,
Up the hill, to the restaurant we’d been waiting for…Hotel Christo.
Great friends, great food…the rain didn’t mean the end,
As many of us sat and cheered with a new British friend.
As the night fell, we see our fellow Fulbrighters surely hold the key,
By being such an inspiration on this magnificent journey!
Thank you for such an unforgettable experience!
1 comment:
Margaret!
I can't believe you're in Bulgaria this summer! How exciting! It looks like an incredible trip! I love the pics :)
I'm on the Malaysia program this summer...wish you were here :)
My friend Carrie and I have been keeping a blog:
malaysiateachers.blogspot.com
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