The lighthouse of tolerance

It is an event “with artistic value, which also symbolizes and celebrates intercultural and interreligious dialogue in Bulgaria, marked by the peaceful coexistence of various ethic groups and religious denominations, such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and others”, Msgr. Janusz Bolonek, apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria told SIR Europe, during the presentation of an exhibition titled: “Tolerance: lighthouse for faith and for life”, due to be inaugurated on January 10 at the national Archaeological Museum in Sofia. The exhibit was conceived and organized by Stefano Benazzo, ambassador of Italy in Bulgaria, architectonic planner of churches, synagogues and mosques, who along with three other Bulgarian architects, collected all the artworks due to be showcased. “It should be noted – Msgr. Bolonek underlined – that the exhibit will take place under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and with the support of the mayor of Sofia”. The initiative, pointed out the apostolic nuncio, is endorsed by the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Maxim, by the apostolic Exharch for Catholics of Eastern rite Msgr. Christo Proykov, and by the representatives of all religious confessions in the Country”. An example for many, in many countries. “We decided to hold the exhibition in Bulgaria – said Stefano Benazzo in the letter of presentation – since here religious, ethnic and religious tolerance aren’t theoretical concepts, nor are they implemented by decree. It is the result of the DNA of civil society, marked by a solid and ancient tradition”. For the ambassador, the tolerance that was experienced by the Bulgarian people at many times of their history, is and must continue acting as “an example to other Countries. It symbolizes and celebrates interreligious and intercultural dialogue in Bulgaria, a feature of which Bulgarian people must be proud of, as it corresponds to the values called for by international organizations, starting with the European Union and the Council of Europe”.Emotion is sharing. The tolerance that gives the name to the exhibit, pointed out the ambassador, “guided also us artists in the description of the specific features of the exhibit”. A multifarious exhibit that was made possible owing to the participation of artists from “many different Countries, belonging to different age groups, professions, Christian confessions and religions”. We all “have dreams and one day we discovered that these dreams come true by creating models of buildings and of places of worship”. For this “we wished to share with the general public the emotion that we felt when we created these reproductions, since the meaning of emotion is sharing. And emotion is always the same, regardless of one’s religion. European capital of culture? “Ours is an ‘arte povera’ (“poor art”), also in commercial terms but – Stefano Benazzo underlines – the models that will be showcased symbolize something intangible and primordial at the same time, namely, faith and life: the essence of everything. In fact, each home in a certain way is a place of worship. In Orthodox homes an icon is often to the right of the entrance door coming in. In Catholic homes there are always religious symbols. In the Jewish homes the sanctity of the home is symbolized on the entrance door. Verses from the Koran are often found on the walls of Muslim homes. It is to be noted that the exhibit, “promoted just for pleasure” has “gradually became a serious undertaking. The proceeds of the sales of the exhibition catalogue will be employed for charity works”.”I also wish to point out – added the ambassador – that the implementation of the tolerance principle is likely to become a founding value of the candidacy of Sofia as ‘European capital of culture’, a recognition that the Bulgarian city is looking forward to”.