Българска Православна Църква Св. Св. Арахангели Михаил и Гавриил, Хага, Нидерландия, Bulgaars-Orthodoxe Kerk , Bulgarian Orthodox Church, The Hague, Netherlands. Welcome to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, The Hague About us Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, The Hague is a church community dedicated to strengthening the spirituality of its believers and supporting the community in the Netherlands. We are here to provide spiritual comfort and guidance, as well as to care for the needs of the people in the community. Learn more History Interesting facts about the history of our Bulgarian Orthodox community and church in the Netherlands. Learn more Services Our church service schedules are posted as events on our Facebook page weekly. Learn more Services Our church service schedules are posted as events on our Facebook page weekly. Donation

Pure prayer Holy Church takes special care of human life. The Church asks God's protection over the newborn and the mother after labor; the church implores the grace of the Holy Spirit over them and takes measures consistent with the requirements of hygiene and medicine. The rite "Prayers over a woman after labor on the fortieth day", performed over the mother and the child on the 40th day after his birth, refers to the churching of the mother, i.e. blessing her to return to the Church to participate in the Eucharist and to receive first communion after birth. From this day, preparation for the holy sacrament of Baptism begins. What to prepare: 1. Bottle of sweet red wine 2. Bottle of oil 3. Package of flour 4. Candles (purchased from the temple) What to do: 1. Let's get acquainted with the Orthodox meaning of the rite How to pray: Prayer for parents O Lord, Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with the gift of family and have entrusted us with their spiritual upbringing. You commanded that we should teach our children about You in our lives: when we sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise. Guide us O Lord every moment of the day as we work toward this awesome task. Let the words of Christ dwell in us, so that we may teach and guide our family, through our words and deeds, to the saving knowledge of Your everlasting kingdom. Help us, O Lord, be compassionate, kind, and patient throughout our days. If one of us has a complaint against another, help us to forgive each other; as You have forgiven us. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Above all, help us to remember to put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. We thank You, Lord for the many blessings and mercies You continually bestow on us. In everything we do, in word or deed, may we always do so in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through His Holy Spirit. Amen.

Baptism Holy Baptism is the first of the sacraments of the Church, in which a person receives God's blessing. The sacrament of Baptism is performed once in a lifetime and is never repeated. The baptized person is introduced to Christianity, symbolically purified and ready to lead a righteous life. The godfather or godmother do become his spiritual parents, therefore they should not be related to the baptized person up to this point. What to prepare: 1. Birth certificate of the baptized 2. Baptismal certificate of the godfather/godmother 3. Large towel or towel for the newly baptized 4. Small towel and soap for the priest 5. New white or light-colored clothes for the newly baptized 6. A sprinkling stick. 7. Bread 8. Sweet red wine 9. Oil or olive oil for the temple What to do: 1. Let us approach the Sacrament consciously 2. If the child is over 40 days old, the mother must be present at the Baptism. 3. If the person being baptized is over 10 years old, the "Creed of Faith" is read, and if he is younger, the "Creed of Faith" is read by the godfather. What the godfather and the newly baptized person need to know: Symbol of faith I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; True God of True God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end; and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

History of the church community 1952-2000 The building of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has been a church since 1952. The church was called the Resurrection of Christ part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) until 2000 and was founded by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, who at that time was the metropolitan for the Russian Church Outside of Russia in Western Europe. Before that, the building was a school, and before that, the neighborhood cemetery was on this site. St. John also founded the churches of St. Mary of Egypt (Amsterdam), the Intercession of the Virgin (Arnhem), and the monastery of St. John the Baptist in The Hague. The churches in Amsterdam and Arnhem, and the Monastery are still currently functioning. 2000-2007 In 2000, Father Rumen Kalaidzhiev, at the initiative of President Petar Stoyanov, established the Bulgarian Orthodox Community in The Hague, with the first liturgy being celebrated on June 18, 2000, Pentecost, in the building of the Bulgarian Embassy in The Hague. On November 19, 2000, the church community began to use the premises used by the Russian Church Abroad, and then the first liturgy was celebrated in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church "St. St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel". The church community also received the blessing of the Western and Central European Metropolitan Simeon. The Russian Church Abroad "Resurrection of Christ" in The Hague ceased its activities. At that time, Father Rumen was an attaché to the Bulgarian Embassy in The Hague. In 2007, Father Rumen returned to Bulgaria due to illness. In Bulgaria, he served as a priest in Dobrinishte at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. 2008-2024 In 2008, Father Yoan Manev became the head of the community. He is a priest of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Community in The Hague St. Paisius of Hilendar at the church "St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel" from 2008 to 2024. His great merit is to preserve the temple in The Hague as Bulgarian, by building a chapel "St. John the Wonderworker of Rila" next to it. He was a cleric of our Western and Central European diocese for more than fifteen years until his death on August 2, 2024, and he is credited with finding his own church for our Orthodox community, which was purchased in 2018 with the support of the Bulgarian state and the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony. In 2018, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe awarded him the distinction of steward. Father Yoan Manev was born on June 16, 1966 in the town of Gabrovo to a family of a kindergarten teacher and an engineer. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Hilarion of Trajanopol (later Metropolitan of Dorostol), then vicar of Metropolitan Stefan of Veliko Tarnovo, in the monastery "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker" in the village of Arbanasi in 1993. He took his first steps as a priest together with Father Bogomil Kasabov in the church "St. John the Baptist" in Gabrovo. He served with dignity in the churches "St. Prophet Elijah" in the village of Bozhentsi, Gabrovo, and "St. John the Rila Wonderworker" in the Gabrovo district "Bichkinya", where he is also the chairman. 2018- By notarial transfer on March 28, 2018, a perpetual right to use church property in The Hague was established for the needs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in The Hague "St. St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel". The contract was signed by the Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony in the presence of the Bulgarian Ambassador to The Hague Rumen Alexandrov. The parties to the contract are the Municipality of The Hague and the Western and Central European Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate. The owner of the property is the Western and Central European Diocese, which leases the church for management and use to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Community "St. Venerable Paisius of Hilendar" in The Hague. The acquisition of the property by the Western and Central European Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate was carried out with the assistance of the Bulgarian Embassy in The Hague, and funds for the purchase of the property were provided by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria. In addition to Metropolitan Anthony, Father Yoan, and the then ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we should not forget the contribution of Ms. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Kyoseva - legal advisor to the Holy Synod, and Ms. Boryana Petkova - Master of Dutch Law from the University of Leiden which also have merit for this God-pleasing work. Since the end of 2024, Father Nikolay has been at the head of our church community.

Repentance Repentance is a sacrament through which the believer, after a loud confession of his sins, with forgiveness spoken aloud by the priest, receives the gracious forgiveness of sins from God Himself and regains the purity and innocence acquired at Baptism. The word repentance means a change in lifestyle and worldview. Confession implies the examination of all the deeds for which conscience or a neighbor accuses him. Before confession, we must analyze our life, actions and thoughts through the eyes of Christ and stand before His icon next to the priest with a heart open to repentance and readiness for change. A good Christian often approaches the sacrament of Confession and lives in Repentance. How to prepare: 1. Fasting, blessed by the priest 2. Examination of conscience (according to the 10 Commandments of God) 3. Penitential prayers What to do: 1. To arrange a convenient time with the priest 2. To confess our sins truly and repentantly 3. To try not to repeat the sins How to pray: Prayer of repentance Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Shepherd and Lamb, You offered Your life on the cross to take away the sins of the world. You granted forgiveness to Peter and to the harlot who turned to You in tears. You forgave the debts of the two debtors and also said, "him who comes to me I will not cast out." Lord, receive me, a sinner, and hear my prayer of repentance (Confess to the Lord your specific sins.) I acknowledge my sins and transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to turn away from my sins and to amend my life according to Your teachings. Help me to walk in the way of the righteous and to offer praise to Your glorious name forever. Amen Sweet, Jesus, my Lord and Master, through Your holy passion You have healed my evil passions, and through Your sacred wounds You have cured my sinful wounds. Grant me, compunction. Purify my body with the fragrance of Your life-giving Body, and casting out the bitterness with which the adversary has fed me. Lift up my earth bound mind to You and take me out of the pit of perdition. I have no sincere repentance, I have no true compunction, I have no consoling tears to lead me as a child of God to my spiritual in heritance. My mind has been darkened through worldly passions. I cannot look up to You in grieving remorse. I cannot warm myself with tears of love for You. But, Lord Jesus Christ, the treasury of blessings, grant me through repentance and a diligent heart to seek You. Grant me Your grace and renew in me the form of Your image. I have forsaken You; but, Lord, do not forsake me. Come out to seek me; lead me to Your pasture; number me among the sheep of Your chosen flock and nourish me with the food of Your sacred mysteries, through the intercession of Your all-pure Mother and of all the Saints. Amen.

Consecration Since creation, water has been not only an inseparable part of human existence, but also a part of its religious life. In the Bible, water symbolizes life, God's grace, the spiritual and moral purity of man. Water is closely connected with God's plan for the salvation of man. Therefore, the Holy Church uses it in the sacraments and rites. The small blessing of water is a rite for consecrating our home, office, car, as well as a cross, icon, etc. objects. What to prepare: 1. Icon, where the water blessing will be performed 2. Bunch of geranium or other green and aromatic herbs 3. Large clean bowl with cold water 4. A little olive oil (about 30 ml.) in a small container 5. Container with raw rice and 3 candles 6. Red wine 7. Loaf of bread 8. List of names of living people to commemorate for health What to do: 1. Let's get acquainted with the Orthodox meaning of the rite How to pray: A prayer for all times Hear the voice of our prayer, O loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, and look with mercy upon us, Your servants, who approach You with faith, trusting in Your unchangeable promise. For You have said: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be given to you,” and again: “Ask, and it will be given to you.” Therefore, we unworthy ones, we beseech You, do not remember our iniquities and do not repay us according to the many transgressions with which we often anger Your goodness, but have mercy on us according to Your infinite mercy and grant us the bounties of Your unspeakable love. Deliver us from the invisible enemy and his snares, which he has spread along all the paths of life, in order to catch us and make us his servants and unfortunate victims. Protect us from our visible enemies; Expose and thwart their evil designs. Fulfill all our good desires and do not allow deprivation and calamities to approach us. Protect us from evil circumstances, from misfortune, sorrow and illness. May our prayers be favorable to You, all-generous Lord, and accept before the throne of Your dominion the deeds that we do in Your name. For You are a God of mercy and love, and to You we give glory, honor and worship, with Your beginningless Father and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever! Amen!

Memorial The death of a loved one always causes sorrow, but we must remember that in Christ everyone is alive. The grave is not an end, it is a door through which the human spirit passes, because “the spirit will return to God who gave it”. Therefore, we pray fervently to the Lord of all mercy to accept the soul of the deceased. The funeral service is performed by a priest in the church. When the coffin is placed in the grave, a mourning prayer, the Trisagion, is read. Then, at the request of the relatives, the home is consecrated with holy water. What to prepare: 1. Bread 2. Boiled wheat 3. Bottle of red wine and a glass 4. Set of candles 5. Photo of the deceased (if in the temple) and flowers 6. Offerings (lenten, if the day is fasting) What to do: 1. Let's get acquainted with the Orthodox meaning of the rite How to pray: Prayer for the departed O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the Devil, and given life to Thy world, do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sighing, and sorrow have fled away. Pardon every transgression which they have committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind; because there is no man who lives yet does not sin, for Thou only art without sin, Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy word is truth. For Thou are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Thy servants who have fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever unto ages of ages. Amen.

ABOUT US The Church Community of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, The Hague, Netherlands, bears the name: The Bulgarian Orthodox Church Community "St. Venerable Paisius of Hilendar". The parish seat is the city of The Hague. The pastoral service of the parish covers the entire territory of the Netherlands. The parish is canonically subordinate to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Bulgarian Patriarchate and belongs to the Bulgarian Western and Central European Diocese. The church community exclusively and directly persecutes religious and charitable purposes. Our task is to organize Bulgarian Orthodox baptized Christians and give them the opportunity to participate in worship services, receive the sacraments, and profess the Orthodox faith; The community aims to offer the peace of Christ to all members through personal contacts during worship services and through joint initiatives, in order to create the opportunity for brotherly love to overcome hatred. It should offer its help and cooperate according to its capabilities wherever there is suffering, misfortune and misunderstanding. COMUNITY MANAGEMENT The Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, The Hague, is proud of its spiritual team dedicated to serving the faithful. Our Metropolitan, priest, and volunteers contribute to the spiritual harmony and well-being of the entire community. Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe was born on Antonovden, January 17, 1978 in Stara Zagora to a family of Orthodox parents, emigrants from Gyumyurgina (present-day Komotini). On June 15, 2010, he was appointed Vicar Bishop of His Eminence Metropolitan Simeon of Western and Central Europe. On June 11, 2013, at its plenary session, the Holy Synod released Metropolitan Simeon of Western and Central Europe at his request from the metropolitan see. On October 27, 2013, he was elected by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church-Bulgarian Orthodox Church as Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe. Father Nikolai priest Father Nikolai Nikolov is the head of our community and church. Father Nikolai was ordained as a deacon in the city of Brühl (Germany) and then in Berlin as a priest by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony. He is originally from Sofia, but for 12 years he has lived and worked in the German city of Aachen. Father Nikolai is married and has 4 children. Father Nikolai also serves in the Bulgarian Church in the city of Cologne. CHURCH WARDENS The Board of Wardens consists of five members: 1. Chairman: Father Nikolai, 2. Vice-President: Dr. Ing. Radoslav Parashkov (PhD) 3. Secretary: adv. Iskren Hristov 4. Person responsible for cultural/social activities: Alexan Chobanov 5. Treasurer: Aaltje Van Den Heuvel CONTROL COMMISSION The control committee consists of a chairman and two other members. GENERAL ASSEMBLY The general assembly consists of all members of the parish and the priest. VOLUNTEERS Volunteers at our church play an important role in supporting the community, contributing to various activities and events that promote the spiritual and social well-being of all believers.

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Communion Communion is a great sacrament. In it, believers receive during the Holy Liturgy, the bread transformed into the Body of Christ and the wine - into the true Blood of Christ the Savior. In this way, believers unite themselves most fully and inseparably with Christ - the source of eternal life, for the forgiveness of sins and the receipt of eternal life. Jesus Christ himself says: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will resurrect him on the last day" Children up to 7 years old receive communion without fasting, confession and prayers. Adults after a blessing from the priest. How to prepare: 1. Blessing/Confession to the priest 2. Fasting the morning before communion 3. Reciting pre-communion prayers What to do: 1. To attend the Holy Liturgy 2. To approach with faith, love and fear of God 3. To recite the post-communion prayers How to pray Prayer before receiving communion Lord, Jesus Christ my God, forgive the faults and sins which I, Your unworthy servant have committed from my youth to this day and hour, whether knowingly or in ignorance, whether by words, deeds, intentions or thoughts and whether by habit or through any of my senses. By the prayers of Your pure and Virgin Mother, make me worthy without condemnation to receive Your precious, immortal and life-giving Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. May the Eucharist sanctify, enlighten, strengthen and heal my soul and body and thus destroy my evil thoughts, intentions and prejudices. For Yours, Christ our God, is the Kingdom, the power, the glory, the honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. Prayer after communion Lord Christ our God, King of the ages and Creator of all, I thank Thee for all the blessings Thou hast granted me and for the communion of Thy pure and life-giving Mysteries. I pray Thee, therefore, good Lord and Lover of men, guard me under Thy protection and within the shadow of Thy wings; and grant me with a clear conscience till my last breath worthily to partake of Thy holy Things for forgiveness of sins and for life eternal. For Thou art the Bread of Life, the Source of Holiness, the Giver of all that is good, and to Thee we send up the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our community is a registered ANBI organization. ANBI is an abbreviation that means “Public Benefit Organization”; in other words, a charity to which donations can be made. Donations to registered charities (with ANBI status) in the Netherlands can be deducted from income tax. All money donated will go towards the administration and construction fees, for maintaining and renovating the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in The Hague Donations a one-time donation can be made by clicking the button or the QR code below. Donation Donations for the church can be also transferred to the account of the Church Community: Bulgaars Orthodox Kerkelijke Gemeente "Heilige Eerwaardige Païsii-Hilendarski ANBI status RSIN: 815050033 IBAN:NL02ABNA0580503038; BOK P. Hilendarski,