orthodox icons – on the wall of the main room of his apartment.
religion – can it be turned on and off like a switch?
Religion was all but outlawed throughout the years of Communism in Bulgaria.
It had to be a hard for Bulgarians.
A good portion of their National Revival after they defeated the Ottoman Empire was built up with their Orthodox religion. It helped to redefine their identity, and even before then, through the years of the yoke, it was always present.
But through Communism, to be apart of something greater they were to give this up.
I’m told that people found with bibles throughout those years were persecuted, sometimes sent to the labor camps or simply killed.
I hear about these stories often.
Ivan’s aunt, Rumi’s dad, Ani’s sister, that one woman who lived near the museum in Kazanlak…
I hear about how, the night before Easter, they would show american movies in the theaters, in attempts to deter people from the midnight candle tradition at the churches. One evil for another they figured.
I see the country still wandering through the transition in many aspects,
but religion… religion seems so strong,
like it never even missed a beat…