METROPOLITAN ANTONY OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE
His Eminence Metropolitan Antony of Western and Central Europe was born on January 17, St. Anthony’s Day, in 1978 in Stara Zagora to a family of Orthodox Christian parents who were refugees from Gyumyurdzhina (present-day Komotini). He completed his primary education in his hometown. In the autumn of 1993, he enrolled as a student at the Plovdiv Theological Seminary “Sts. Cyril and Methodius.” After graduating from the seminary with honors in 1998, he was admitted as a full-time student at the Faculty of Theology of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” During his studies, he served daily as a church choir singer at the “Dormition of the Mother of God” church in the Malashevtsi district of Sofia.
In the spring of 2002, he entered the Klisura Monastery “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” near the town of Varshets in the Diocese of Vidin as a novice. On August 5, 2002, on the eve of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, during the evening service, he received monastic tonsure, with the present-day Bishop Sionius of Veliki serving as his sponsor under the mantle, at that time still an archimandrite and rector of the Sofia Theological Seminary. On October 18, 2002, he was ordained hierodeacon by His Eminence Metropolitan Dometian of Vidin, and on January 17, 2003, he was ordained hieromonk.
After graduating from the Faculty of Theology at Sofia University, on April 1, 2003, he was appointed, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as an ephemerios and lecturer at the Plovdiv Theological Seminary “Sts. Cyril and Methodius.”
On November 21, 2006, by decision of the Holy Synod, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in the church of the Plovdiv Seminary by His Eminence Metropolitan Neofit of Ruse — then chairman of the Educational Commission of the Holy Synod and today Patriarch of Bulgaria.
From May 1, 2007, he was appointed by His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv as protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Plovdiv. On the 23rd… 03. In 2008, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, he was ordained bishop with the title of Bishop of Constantia, and after his enthronement in the town of Smolyan on April 19, 2008 (Lazarus Saturday), he was entrusted with the spiritual care of the people of the Rhodope Mountains.
From June 15, 2010, he served as vicar bishop to His Eminence Metropolitan Simeon of Western and Central Europe.
On October 27, 2013, he was elected by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church–Bulgarian Patriarchate as Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe.
YOU STUDIED AT A THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND LATER DECIDED TO TAKE MONASTIC VOWS. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRIEST AND A MONK?
There is a difference, because these are the two paths of service in the Church. One is the path of monasticism, when you dedicate yourself entirely to God and devote yourself to serving Him. We know that the word “monk” means “one” or “alone.” The path of monasticism is truly a great trial, but it also brings many spiritual joys. A monk completely entrusts himself to the Church — in other words, he no longer belongs to himself; God disposes of his life.
I chose this path at an early age, at 24, in the holy Klisura Monastery in the Diocese of Vidin. Through the all-good providence of God, I became a bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and carry the difficult cross of ministry for the benefit of our compatriots living far from their homeland, in Western and Central Europe.
I would like to emphasize that while a monk remains in a monastery, fulfilling his obedience, a bishop must be a public figure; instead of receiving obedience, he must give it.
A priest, on the other hand, serves his entrusted flock while also caring for his own family. Both paths — when blessed by God and established by the Church — are gracious and salvific. We cannot divide them into easier and harder, because everything depends on us ourselves, on our prayer, and on God’s love and mercy, which He shows us every single day.
Thus, every clergyman carries his own cross: caring for his parish church, preserving the beauty and dignity of the temple, increasing his flock, preaching the Word of God, and also caring for his domestic church — his family and children — raising them to become worthy children of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and honorable members of our society.
FOR FOUR YEARS YOU HAVE HELD AN IMPORTANT POSITION. WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFICULTIES YOU ENCOUNTER?
Since 2013, I have served as Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe. The first difficulty, from a human point of view, is that a great deal of energy is required to travel such long distances. It demands very good physical endurance, because sometimes within a single week I must be in a different European city almost every other day in order to reach our compatriots and devote time not only to meeting their spiritual needs, but also simply to speaking with them on a human level.
When we live in a multicultural environment, and when we know that in most European countries the Orthodox Church is not the traditional denomination — where traditionally Roman Catholicism or the Evangelical Church predominates — this multicultural setting perhaps also encourages Orthodox Christians themselves to become more united and truly zealous in preserving their faith.
No ministry in the Church can be easy, because we know that when we stand faithfully at our post, the trials become greater. And when we strive to uphold our faith, many temptations are allowed to come upon us by God. Therefore, we must pray that God grant us the strength to endure, because we know that He never gives us more than we are able to bear.
That is why I believe that the cross every clergyman carries is according to the measure of his strength. If at certain moments during our ministry that cross feels heavier, it is because of our human weakness. Perhaps we do not pray enough; perhaps we do not devote enough time to thinking about God. But when we truly pray, God accomplishes everything else — He asks very little from us, while He Himself does abundantly more.
We need only faith, as it is said in Holy Scripture: “Ask, and it will be given to you.” What is required of us is not only to ask God for help, but also to bear the fruits of repentance — above all, diligence and steadfastness in our faith in God.
IN THE 21ST CENTURY, PEOPLE’S PRIORITIES IN MAKING DECISIONS HAVE CHANGED. BUSINESSMEN AND POLITICIANS OFTEN PREFER PROFIT OVER SPIRITUALITY. SHOULD WE TRY TO CHANGE THEIR BELIEFS OR NOT?
Unfortunately, we truly live in a highly materialistic world, where material values take precedence over spiritual ones. Holy Scripture says very clearly: “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This is the maxim of success, and it is also the foundation and guarantee of life and salvation in Christ.
There are many successful people who have achieved success in one way or another. In our modern age, however, success is viewed from a different perspective — the successful person is seen as the aggressive one, the one who imposes his ego, the person who is ruthless and uncompromising.
We see many examples of such “successful” people. To me, a truly successful person is someone who has preserved within himself a sound moral and ethical foundation. Successful people are those who possess a clearly formed system of values; they achieve success through perseverance, hard work, and above all through their faith in God. There are many such people.
But we live in a time when values are being replaced, when there is a deep spiritual and moral crisis. Today, being virtuous is almost seen as a reproach to others. Because if a person is virtuous, well-mannered, shows understanding and respect toward others, people often perceive him as weak-willed or soft-hearted.
Unfortunately, the environment in which we live truly values aggression, and we see that those who are more aggressive and pushy often succeed. But this is only a very short-term scenario, because, as I said, Christ teaches us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Earthly treasures are temporary — they exist today and tomorrow they are gone.
In our modern world, we are impatient, and like Thomas, who wanted proof of Christ’s Resurrection before believing, we want to touch and experience everything here and now, immediately. We lack humility, we lack the patience to wait and see the fruits of our labor. Instead, we want to become rich instantly and obtain all the blessings of this world with the least possible effort.
There is no way this can truly last, or if it does, it will only be temporary and illusory. In this way, many people lose themselves; they lose the image of God within them, because they distance themselves from God in pursuit of endless material possessions which, when viewed realistically, they do not actually need. They accumulate them without using them, and we know that material wealth in the world is like a system of connected vessels — if you take more from one side, there is less on the other.
Thus, consciously or unconsciously, we deprive other people who are truly in need of these goods. After all, a person cannot drive two or three cars at the same time, nor live simultaneously in several apartments, and so on. This materialism truly destroys the sensitivity of the human heart and hardens it. And when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we will see that we have lost much of the image that God placed within us at the moment of our creation.
DOES EVIL EXIST, AND HOW CAN WE DEVELOP SPIRITUAL IMMUNITY AGAINST IT?
Evil has existed since the creation of the world. The struggle between good and evil is constant. The only true immunity in this battle is prayer — sincere, heartfelt prayer — and participation in the grace-filled sacraments of the Church.
For we know that the Church on earth is militant, while in heaven it is triumphant. It is militant here on earth because it must constantly struggle against evil, for evil continues to seize more and more territory within human souls, especially among the younger generation and those who are not yet firmly grounded in faith. And this immunity, if we may call it so, is our prayer.
At one moment or another in life, a person may come under the assault of evil. But he must not despair, must not lose heart, must not abandon the struggle, and must never surrender. That is why every Christian is called a warrior of Christ — because through Holy Baptism, by following the path of Christ, we are clothed in Him and carry Christ within ourselves.
As warriors, we must guard Him within us, because if we fail to do so, the territory of our soul will truly be conquered by the enemy of human salvation. Then we will become lost in darkness and unable to find the path back to Christ.
Therefore, the most important means of fighting evil are prayer, fasting, confession, the Holy Eucharist, and Holy Communion itself. The Eucharist is the reception of the Body of Christ. And when we receive Christ, there is no room for anyone else. Christ fills our hearts, and we become bearers of Christ.
WHY DON’T PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHOULD GO TO CHURCH? THEY SAY: “GOD IS WITHIN ME, I BELIEVE.” THEY HAVE ICONS AND PRAYERS AT HOME, BUT THEY DO NOT COME TO CHURCH BECAUSE SOMEONE ONCE CRITICIZED THEIR CLOTHING. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH?
First of all, because it is the House of the Lord. The temple of God is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. There, Christ Himself is the Master. There is no greater joy. When do we rejoice in our worldly life? We rejoice when we visit a close friend, acquaintance, or relative. But how much greater is our joy when we go to our Creator and Maker!
Those who say that they can live without the church, in my opinion, display a form of pride — they overestimate their own human strength and fail to recognize the invisible grace that is bestowed in the Church. And very soon, they risk losing their souls.
A person should approach the church with humility. When we attend an official reception, the invitation often specifies a dress code — meaning that we are expected to dress appropriately for the occasion. How much more so when we go before Christ should we be properly dressed.
If I look back to my childhood, I remember my grandmother and grandfather preparing specially when they were going to church. They would put on special clothes — not expensive ones, but clean clothes that they wore only for church. My grandfather even had a pair of shoes reserved exclusively for attending church; he wore them nowhere else. Is this an expression of attitude toward God and faith? Indeed, it is an expression of reverence.
For we know that the fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom. This is not fear of punishment, as in the Old Testament, but fear born of love. The fear of God rests entirely upon the love of human beings for God and God’s love for humanity.
And then, when we come into the church, we are able to open our souls and pour them out before God. The priest, who has been entrusted with this grace through his ordination, can truly become a mediator and bearer of our prayers before God.
“BEGINNER” BELIEVERS OFTEN SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT ORTHODOX PRAYER, RITUALS, AND TRADITIONS? ARE THERE OFFICIAL SOURCES WHERE THEY CAN READ ABOUT THESE THINGS?
Unfortunately, not everything found on the internet is trustworthy or accurate. People do not always come across correct information. My advice is for them to consult their parish priest. The official source of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is the website of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
But above all, people should turn to their priest and spiritual confessor, because he best understands what their soul truly needs. Just as a child in the first years of life is gradually introduced to different kinds of food in order to become accustomed to solid nourishment, so too every “infant” in the faith must be approached gradually and with great care, so that spiritual guidance may truly benefit them rather than harm them.
MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT INJUSTICE. IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN INJUSTICE AND A SIN THAT A PARTICULAR PERSON MAY HAVE COMMITTED?
The concepts of what is fair or unfair are not always directly connected to sin or goodness. True justice is that which is in accordance with God’s moral and spiritual law.
I will give you a very simple example. Suppose a person comes to you asking for money, but you know that the money is not truly for him — that there is an organized group profiting from these beggars. Or perhaps you know the person personally and understand that if you give him those two leva, he will use them to buy alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. In that case, by giving him the money, you are actually harming him.
To others, it may appear unfair that you refuse to give him money, but in reality it is just, because in this way you are protecting him. It would be far better to buy that person food or help provide him with shelter instead.
AND ARE ILLNESSES CONNECTED TO SIN?
Illnesses are a consequence of sin. Some may say that this sounds very harsh on God’s part. But illnesses are often the result of an improper way of life. Even if we look at this purely from a medical point of view, we can see that overeating leads to disease. Excess — in other words, lack of moderation — harms us. We must live with moderation, and when we do, we truly care for our bodies, because we know that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Apostle Paul says: “Do not turn the care of the body into lust.”
On the one hand, illnesses are sent as trials, so that God may show us where we have gone wrong and lead us to rely on Him more deeply, testing our faith. On the other hand, illnesses may come as a consequence of an improper way of life. And sometimes they are given for our correction and awakening.
There is no greater suffering than seeing someone close to you in pain while being powerless to help, because everything is ultimately in God’s hands. Even if one has acquired all the riches of this world, money, power, influence, and connections are not always enough to help. God shows us that all these things are vanity, and that He alone is the true Physician of the souls and bodies of mankind.
That is why we must look deeply within ourselves, discover where our mistake lies, and repent. Once we begin to walk on the right path, God will help us much more easily. But we are impatient. Many people say: “I have never fasted in my life, but now, so that God may help me, I will fast for ten days.” Then, after those ten days, they begin to complain impatiently and say: “Lord, I fasted for ten days, and You still did not help me.”
But this cannot be the relationship between God and man. It is not an ordinary transaction or a marketplace bargain. It is a relationship of self-giving and spiritual growth. It establishes an unbreakable bond between God and the human being.
Sometimes a believer accepts illness as a trial, while a non-believer sees it only as punishment. Is this not the difference between the faithful and the faithless person? Every day we place our lives into God’s hands and rely entirely upon Him.
DO YOU HAVE A DREAM? ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DREAM?
Dreams are something imaginary, something that exists in the realm of fantasy. A person should not dream — he should pray, asking God to grant him what he truly needs most.
I pray that God gives me strength in my ministry within the Diocese of Western and Central Europe; that both the clergy and the faithful may increase in number; that we may beautify our churches and build new temples for our compatriots. These are my hopes and aspirations for the future. Everything else is in God’s hands.
Daydreaming, however, can become sinful, because a person departs from reality and enters another world, beginning to live entirely within that idea, which is not good for him. Then he is no longer firmly grounded, as people say. A person must stand firmly and steadfastly in his place, follow his path, and carry his cross.
THERE IS AN OPINION THAT THERE IS MORE SPIRITUALITY IN MONASTERIES THAN IN CITY CHURCHES. IS THAT TRUE OR NOT?
That is true. Monasteries are places where people live who have dedicated their entire lives to God. Every day they pray, morning and evening. These are spiritual centers of faith, where people can truly speak with spiritually experienced elders, share their problems, and receive guidance and wisdom.
In the city, however, amid the vanity and rush of everyday life, while we hurry to fulfill our worldly duties, it is often difficult to enter a church and immediately open our souls completely. But when a person goes to a monastery, he begins preparing from the very moment of departure, because he intends to stay there for some time. In this way, he gradually detaches himself from worldly distractions and obligations. Usually, such visits happen on holidays or weekends.
City churches, on the other hand, are intended for the conditions of our daily lives, so that with the blessing of God and the Church we may come into the temple, light a candle, and pray — whether on the way to work or while returning home. Thanks be to God that we have this opportunity.
IS THERE A FUTURE FOR BULGARIA?
Churches are being built in Bulgaria every year. New churches are constructed annually in different parts of our homeland. In the various dioceses, new temples are consecrated, which is something truly wonderful and joyful.
Because whenever a new House of God opens its doors, it becomes yet another place where human souls may find salvation.
MANY FOREIGNERS TRAVEL TO BULGARIA, BUT THEY DO NOT VISIT MONASTERIES BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SUCH TOURS. IS THE BULGARIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH PLANNING ANY TOURIST DESTINATIONS OR PILGRIMAGE ROUTES?
Of course. The Rila, Bachkovo, and Troyan Monasteries are the three great stavropegial monasteries of Bulgaria. There are also many other monasteries that possess their own spiritual beauty, historical significance, cultural value, and above all, spiritual contribution.
At present, religious tourism in Bulgaria — particularly organized by the Church itself — is still not very well developed. We are pleased that the Sofia Holy Metropolis has opened such a religious tourism center, which is currently developing pilgrimage and travel routes. There are also various tour operators offering such excursions not only within Bulgaria, but also to Greece and other places where Orthodox holy sites are located.
Naturally, the beauty and spiritual treasures of our Orthodox Church here in Bulgaria are still not sufficiently promoted and are not visited enough by foreign tourists. Very few foreign visitors know about our beautiful monasteries. We know that around Sliven, Veliko Tarnovo, and Sofia there are, so to speak, three small “Holy Mountains,” with such a great concentration of monasteries — some of them active today, others ruined or awaiting restoration.
So yes, there is much for foreigners to see in Bulgaria. We have beautiful mountains, a beautiful sea coast, and in all these places there are wonderful spiritual and cultural centers, churches, and monasteries. We know that Saint Andrew the First-Called passed along the Black Sea coast. We also know of the heavenly protector of the Bulgarian people, Saint John of Rila, and his holy monastery.
Therefore, I encourage people, whenever they have the opportunity and free time, to devote some of it to visiting our spiritual treasures here in Bulgaria, so that they may gain not only knowledge and information, but above all spiritual benefit by going to and touching these prayer-filled holy places.
WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO GOD WHEN YOU MEET HIM?
Every person has his own earthly path that he must walk. And beyond that: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner!” — this is the Jesus Prayer. There is nothing else we can say to Him, because God already knows all our deeds. But we must pray that God may be merciful, forgive our unintentional sins, and grant us salvation.
Interview by Evgeniya Staylovskaya