Bulgaria of the Religions by Dimana Trankova, Anthony Georgieff

Bulgaria of the Religions opens up to English speakers the wondrous yet little known world of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It guides through the centuries of Christian heritage in what is today's Bulgaria - from the early basilicas when these lands were a part of the Roman Empire, through Byzantium and the Ottoman period, and from the 19th century National Revival and early 20th century urban development to the repressions of Communism. The book focuses on material heritage - churches, chapels, monasteries, icons, clerical art and architecture while telling the story of how Orthodox Christianity evolved through the centuries to become the dominant religion of today's Bulgaria. But Bulgaria of the Religion holds a lot more to offer than Eastern Orthodoxy. There are chapters on Roman Catholics in Bulgaria as well as Western Protestant, including American, religious penetration and the cultural place they occupy in modern Bulgaria. Special sections of the book deal with other mainstream religions in Bulgaria like Islam and Judaism, and with newer, esoteric faiths and beliefs like the White Brotherhood sect founded by Peter Deunov and the curious story of Vanga, the blind clairvoyant, who became the only officially recognised mystic in the pay of a Communist government. Richly illustrated with superb photography Bulgaria of the Religions is a must for anyone with an interest in spiritual development in southeastern Europe.