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HISTORY OF CHURCH "SAINT SOPHIA"
The parish of church “St. Sophia” has been an important part of Chicago’s Bulgarian Orthodox community for more than 60 years.
The Eastern Orthodox Christians from Bulgaria and Macedonia, and all persons of Bulgarian descent born in the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, and who according to their Christian Faith belong to the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Religion, organized on April 29, 1938, and registered with the state of Illinois on March 1, 1946 Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church “Saint Sophia” as a non- profit organization with residency city of Chicago, 3827 N. Lawndale St. Later the church “St. Sophia” was accepted to the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia under the spiritual supervision of Metropolitan Yossif, seated in New York, who is also a member of The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The first home of the church was a residential house converted to a sacred place for religious services and social gatherings. With the growth of the community the need of new and bigger place became a necessity. The road to build the church was long and difficult. Finally in 2002 the construction of the new building was completed and the church service was resumed in the new location at 404 W. Oakton St. in Des Plaines, IL 60016.
From the beginning, the involvement in the church’s affairs has been a family and volunteer service in some capacity. Has been a long time ago since the first five people gathered together to united spiritually in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and become founders and the first members of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox church in Chicago.
Now the number of the members is 250 and the current size of the congregation is
80 000 people. The average of the Sunday attendance is around 300 people. With the guidance of our spiritual father Reverend Gruio Tzonkov, Mininister since 1993, as well as the parish council, benefactors and volunteers, the church has baptized, married, educated and raised thousands of people in the Bulgarian Orthodox faith and traditions.
Our main building was constructed as a sacred place to worship with God. The attached building is a place for social activities and meetings. On the second floor is the Bulgarian school, where many children study Bulgarian language, history, art, dance and music.
The ministry receives its financial support from regular membership dues, voluntary donations and contributions. The concerts and others social events that take place in the second building are good source of income for the church’s budget. The Bulgarian church is a place that welcomes more and more Christians, and it is open to all those who share the faith and help to keep the Bulgarian traditions alive.
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кампания "Църковен Иконостас"
Дарете Онлайн |
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