The first Marian Congress in Bulgaria took place in Sofia on 11 October. Held under the auspices of the Focolare Movement, it had as its title: “Jesus through the eyes of the Virgin Mary”. It’s the first time that such an official event has been held and it attracted wide confessional support: Orthodox and non-believers, Protestants, Latin Catholics and Byzantine Catholics were also present. The president of the Bulgarian Episcopal Conference Msgr. Hristo Projkov presented the Pope’s apostolic letter “Rosario Virginae Mariae”, while an Orthodox theologian, Father Nikolaj Scivarov, professor of the faculty of theology at the University of St. Clement of Ocrida in Sofia, spoke of Mary according to Orthodox Mariology. The representatives of the other confessions presented songs, performances and dances in celebration of Mary. “The aim of the congress explained Maria Lucia Consiglio of the Focolare Movement was to respond to the Holy Father’s appeal to spread the practice of the rosary and increase love for Mary in all Christians”. The Focolari have been present in Bulgaria since 1975. They are more numerous in Sofia, but are also present in the cities of Plovdiv, Rakovski, Jambol, Shumen, Karlovo, Kazanlak, Varna and other smaller towns.
