Few days ago was signed an official agreement between the National Council of the Religious Communities in Bulgaria (NCRCB) and the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) for providing airtime to the religious groups during the state of emergency in our country and a possibility to send a joint message to the believers. In connection with this the first TV participation in the framework of the signed agreement between the two parties took place on April 4 (Saturday) from 14:00 o’clock in the show “Faith and Society” (Vyara I obshtestvo) on BNT 1. The one-hour TV show with a presenter Goran Blagoev is broadcasted live every week.

Official guests in its latest edition were the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, Sofia Kohen – Chairperson of the Central Israelite Religious Council in Bulgaria, Bishop Hristo Proykov – Chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, Pastor Rumen Bordzhiev – President of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance, and Antranik Shakaryan – President of the Eparchial Council of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Bulgaria, who participated with a direct connection from Regional TV center – Varna.

During their participation in the show, the spiritual leaders of the main religions in our country sent important messages to the communities of the believers in the country, especially important in the situation of the current pandemic crisis, which is not a precedent, but for a first time is global and affects all of us, regardless of gender, race, religion or other differences. The spiritual leaders united on the understanding that the present situation requires from all of us to be united and to fight united against the challenge, which requires great efforts. The participants from the different religious denominations shared their experience related to performing the acts of worship in a state of emergency. They also discussed the alternatives for performing the prayers, which at the present moment cannot be done in congregation in the religious temples, as well as the opportunities which the online environment provides us in such time of crisis.

On the air of the national television the religious leaders of the four religious communities reminded all believers that for the religious person every situation comes for the better and expressed their hope that the present crisis will bring us to a better world after its passing and we will be more conscious, humble, and with more humanity and stronger faith in our hearts, when everything is over.

Author: L. Chausheva

Video recording of the show “Faith and Society” on BNT 1 from April 4, 2020, the first one in the framework of the joint project between NCRCB and BNT during the state of emergency, can be watched HERE.