History of the Seventh-day adventist church in Bulgaria

The Seventh-day adventist church is a Christian church with Protestant roots, originating from the second half of the 19th century in the USA. The first adventists in Bulgaria are German settlers from Crimea, Russian. In the beginning of the 19th century, they come here in Bulgaria. They settle as colonists in Northeast Dobrudzha, where they establish their own groups. In 1919 there are 3 adventist churches: in Sofia, Ruse, and Gabrovo. The adventist publishing house „New Life“ has been founded in 1924. The books that the publishing house prints, give a huge boost in the development of the church. The first church building was built in 1924 and located at str. „Solunska“ 10 in Sofia. It continues to work to this day.
Our chuch „Sofia Zapad“ separates as a stand-alone church in 2011.
The whole history of the Adventist church in Bulgaria shows our readiness to help in the process of spreading the Gospel with our nation. Through the Scriptures and our lives as example, we help the society to harness high moral values.
Church „Sofia Zapad“ strives to serve the society with its social, public and education projects.

Timeline of the history of the Bulgarian Seventh-day adventist church, Sofia Seventh-day adventist church and Seventh-day adventist church “Sofia Zapad”

1891


Beginning and the early history of the church in Bulgaria

The beginning and the early history of the gospel in Bulgaria, preached from the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) can be traced back to the late 19th century. For the first time, Adventist emigrants from the Crimea settled in Dobrudja in a village Sargyol in 1891.

1891
1896

First Adventist in Bulgaria

Ludwig R. Conradi, leader of Adventism in Eastern Europe visited the city of Ruse and together with G. Wagner began work among Baptists. The Bulgarian Jacob Grimberg – a seller of literature at the British Bible Society, was the first Adventist in Bulgaria.

1896
1908

First Bulgarian preacher

The first Bulgarian preacher Georgi Kadalev Dimitrov graduated from the Friedensau Missionary School in Germany in 1908.

1908
1919

The first hall for worship

The first rented hall for worship is at 13 6th of September Street. In 1919, Konstantin Stoyanov rented a larger hall at 9 Khan Krum Street at his own expense. Stefan Konstantinov’s sermons at that time attracted new believers.

1919
1924

First own house of prayer

In 1924 in Sofia a place was bought at 10 Solunska Street, where it was built the first Adventist home of its own with donations from Adventists in 27 countries. Architect Petyo Kantardzhiev, the son of Adventists, supervised the construction. The building was built in one year and in the autumn of 1925 the Church of Sofia was consecrated with the arrival of Brother Schubert.

Over the years, various Bulgarian and German pastors have preached The word inspires the public activity of the church.

1924
1957

Church “B”

The leadership of the church decided to divide the Church of Sofia into two: Church “A” and Church “B”. Church “B” began its independent worship in the summer of 1957 with 27 people in the rented hall at 74 Shar Planina Street, Yuchbunar district. Dimitar Kirov, pastor of Church B in 1957, recalls: “Because of the increase of the church in 1956. The Union Council bought the former for the needs of the gospel a synagogue (converted into a warehouse) located on the corner of Exarch Joseph Street and “Budapest”. The renovation of the building for church “B” lasted six or seven months.

Mikhail Yorgov, 25, an assistant preacher at Church B, recalls: “At the end of January, the renovation was completed and the date of consecration was set – 10 February 1957. On the Friday before the consecration in the afternoon came a message from The Ministry that they are taking away our opportunity to open a house of prayer. Then I had to greet the coming believers at the door and tell them that the service will be held at 10 Solunska Street. I remember her sadness, grief and tears in the eyes of the brothers and sisters. ”That same year, the communist government took away the property of church “B”. From 1957 to 1989 the services of churches “A” and “B” were held on Vasil Street. Kolarov “10.

1957
1990

At the beginning of democracy

In the summer of 1990, 120 members of Church B (the rest joined) to Church “A”) with Rev. Stancho Dimov moved to a rented building on Blvd. Konstantin Velichkov and Slivnitsa Blvd. Renovated by church members an abandoned building became bright, clean, decorated with many flower pots. One day for great joy and surprise of church “B” arrives from somewhere a big truck full of Bibles in Bulgarian. The pallets on which the Bibles were arranged were used to make a podium for the pulpit and particles for the choristers. A few months later, during Friday night’s service, they raided daring several men carrying books under the pretext that the ceiling of the old building Chitalishte Gotse Delchev has fallen. Violation of worship is reflected in the then newspaper Democracy. From that day, without anything warning, the employees of the Chitalishte are accommodated permanently. It’s starting new search for a salon for worship.

1990
1991

Church “C”

In the autumn of 1991, members of Church “A” and “B” (180 people in total) with Rev. Stancho Dimov and Rev. Nikola Levterov formed the new for Sofia church “C” in the community center Svetlina, Slatina district

1991
1999

Church “B” with a newly built house of prayer

On June 27, 1999, Church B moved into a newly built prayer house home at 64 Ekzarh Yosif Street (this is the former royal bakery Korona). The church was consecrated on February 19, 2000 in the presence of official guests: Mr. Mladenov, Director of the Directorate on Religions, Pastor Carlos Puyol, Secretary of the Euro-African Division, Pastor Agop Tahmisyan, Chairman of the CASD Union Council, Pastors Nikola Levterov, Mikhail Yorgov, arch. Stryaskov and Mr. Gogov, general contractor of the construction of the church, and other persons.

During the consecration, Mr. Mladenov said: “Dear Mr. Tahmisyan, dear leaders of CASD, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, above all I want you Thank you for inviting me to this holiday and on behalf of the Minister advice and the Directorate of Religions to congratulate you on this nicely an achievement you have – a new house of prayer… I came here to express, of course are, the best feelings that the Directorate of Religions has for yours church, to express our opinion that CASD is a worthy member of the Christian family in Bulgaria, a worthy member of the entire religious community in our country country… “

1999
2001

The begining of church “Lulin”

The church also grew on 31 October 2001 two election commissions nominated staff for the two new ones churches – “Exarch Joseph” and “Lyulin”. In 2002, 262 members remained in the Exarch Joseph Church, and in the Lyulin Church – 188

2001
2005

Lyulin Church from 2005 until 2010

From the spring of 2005 to 2010 the pastor of the Lyulin Church was Apostol Stoykov. In the autumn of 2006 the church organized a very well-attended health center exhibition entitled: “I choose to be healthy” in the Sports Complex “Sikonko” c Lyulin.

2005
2012

Sofia-West Church

From the spring of 2010 to 2015, the pastor of the Lyulin Church was Sergei Genov. By decision of the church council in 2012 the church was renamed “Sofia-West” In January 2012, the church left the hall at 64 Ekzarh Yosif Street and rented the small hall of the Evangelical Church “Good News”. It is during this period well-planned literary evangelism with books, pamphlets and magazines. “Together” in the residential area. Lyulin.

2012
2015

Since September 2015, the pastor of the church “Sofia West” is Stoyan Petkov.

2015
2017

Sofia-West Church from 2017

From July 2017 Church “Sofia-West” conducts its services in rented salon at 5 Dobri Nemirov Street in Lyulin.

2017