The fact that this year the Orthodox Easter coincided in date with the Catholic Easter gave rise to a series of ecumenical events aimed at bringing the two major Christian confessions in Bulgaria closer together. The most significant celebration took place in the town of Russe where, after the prayer vigil of the night before, Catholic, Orthodox and Armenian faithful took to the streets to greet each other. The Orthodox priest Father Stefan Stefanov from the church of St. Nicholas, the Passionist parish priest from the cathedral of St. Paul of the Cross and the Armenian priest Father Dirir led their respective flocks, who met together in the street in which the Orthodox and Catholic churches are situated opposite each other. The priests raised the cross according to the Orthodox tradition and one after another greeted the people with the words “Christ is risen!”. “May these steps we are taking lead to greater unity”, said the Armenian Father Dirir. “Christ is one, let’s seek unity between us”. “We share close friendship”, said the Orthodox Father Stefano Stefanov, “not only because our churches face each other on opposite sides of the street, but also because we have the same view of evangelization and the mission entrusted to us. We must build on what it is that we hold in common and not on what it is that divides us”.
