Sorry, didn’t mean to go dark this long, but things went in some very unexpected and wonderful ways. This will be a quick overview, and more detailed posts on food, wine, rakia, and other topics are on the way.
Friday, in addition to needing to do some shopping, I had my second Bulgarian cooking lesson. Am going to be doing detailed reports on both, and will highly recommend both to anyone coming to Sofia. It turns out both of the ladies who did the courses are Orthodox, and both have provided some very interesting introductions. The nice young lady on Friday said a relative of her mother’s was at a monastery here on the outskirts of Sofia, and asked if I would like to visit? Of course, and it turns out he’s the Abbot. More on this is just a bit.
After a very late night (the young lady, her boyfriend, and I ended up talking space, science, and more until quite late), I got up early and caught a tour bus to Rila to visit the monastery of St. John of Rila (St. Ivan Rilski). The tour was primarily for a group of Italian tourists, though about four Spaniards and myself helped round things out a bit. I remembered more Italian from when I was 12 than I thought I did, and thankfully the tour guide (fantastic lady) also shared key things in English. At the monastery, I — very unexpectedly — had the opportunity to venerate the relics of St. John, was blessed, and then anointed. Then, I made the climb up a mountain to the cave where he lived (and died) and even made it out through the “narrow way” that only the pure can pass/scrapes off all sins (and some skin if not careful). I only fell once on the climb, right at the start, and had a wonderful young Italian couple keep an eye on me the rest of the journey. No, my balance has not been good since the lightning strike.
As we were on the way back to Sofia, got a message from the Friday cooking lesson lady, who had talked to her relative. He didn’t speak English, others did, come on out to visit was the basic message. So, Sunday morning bright and early, I got a taxi and went to what I thought was the right location. It wasn’t. My fault. Took a while to get another taxi, but did eventually get to the right location and had an amazing visit at the German Monastery of St. John of Rila. Are you catching a theme here? After the service, I was invited to join the members for a meal, and had a great time. I was also told that since I had stayed in Bulgaria more than a week already, I was not allowed to leave but had to stay. One gentleman even offered to give me the number for his real estate person so I could buy an apartment. Given what I’ve seen on anti-social media in the aftermath of the latest assassination attempt, I’m thinking St. John had a good idea and am wondering what a gently used cave might run…
Yesterday, I finished up all the coursework for my theology course. All that is left is the final, and given how the midterm went (I passed, but not like I should have given all) I am not looking forward to it. I don’t see myself being able to do regular schooling again. Doing remote learning works a lot better, but even that has been a challenge. We will see what happens.
This morning, while working on this, got contacted on WhatsApp by some of the people I met Sunday. Short version is that they are making arrangements to pick me up for Church this Sunday.
So, it has been busy and a bit overwhelming. There are still elements of Saturday that I’m processing. I did the tour just to get down there, and because I could in effect leave the tour and do my own thing (mostly prayer) while there. I had no expectation of anything more, though I had asked St. John to guide my visit to him and his monastery before I left the U.S. Never expected it would be literally to him. Then to find out my Sunday service was at the German Monastery of St. John of Rila (had just heard/been told it was the German monastery, named for the nearby town of German) and built at/on the site of St. John’s hut where he lived before fleeing to Rila to escape the constant visits/people.
That’s the quick version, more detailed posts are on the way later today and tomorrow. Sorry to be dark so long, but it has been very interesting and almost completely in good ways. I’m exhausted, but happy. In fact, that’s probably a bit of an understatement. Need to do some housecleaning, get caught up a bit, but will get caught up here as quickly as I can!
If you would like to help me with this trip, seminary courses, and more, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. I’ve added Cash App ($CliffPow7) and Venmo (@Clifford-Powers-5). There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. Getting hit by lightning is not fun! It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.