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Greece gained its freedom from the Ottoman’s in 1830, when for
the first time in history it became a country. Serbia gained
independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 through the
Congress of Berlin, which ended the Russo-Turkish War. The
Treaty of San Stefano, also in 1878, gave Bulgaria and
Macedonia independence from Ottoman rule, but the Congress of
Berlin returned Macedonia to Ottoman rule.
Toronto -- Father Boris Drangov is retiring after more than 33
years of service to the parishioners of St. George Macedono -
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church (OCA). He was ordained just
a few days before immigrating to Canada. He, Popadia Rosa and
daughter Maria arrived at the Pearson International Airport in
Toronto in the late afternoon on a cold November day in 1975.
After several hours in the immigration office, the late Bishop
Kyrill and members of the church board took him to a nice
restaurant. Later his brother in-law drove them to Barrie,
Ont., to spend a few days together after almost-ten-year
separation. The next morning they awoke to mountains of snow -
everything was covered in bright, sparkling snow.
"It was very beautiful," remembers the father.
"I believe church life at St. George is the normal life of a
normal parish, - a parish of immigrants, their children and
grandchildren. It is an Eastern Orthodox parish in un-orthodox
surroundings with all the positives and negatives that
implies. Very good people built the church and feel at home
here."
He adds that sometimes there are problems because some
individuals try to change the teaching, or the tradition, or
the practice of the Church, forgetting that the Church as a
community is governed and sanctified by Jesus Christ and the
Holy Spirit, is ruled by the hierarchy with the apostolic
succession and is administered by the Ecumenical and local
councils, united by the holy Sacraments and the Orthodox
faith.
"It is most important that we follow Christ."
He stresses he has been very happy at St. George to celebrate
the Divine Liturgy and share the Holy Body and Blood of Christ
with his parishioners, to preach to them the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, to unite in holy Matrimony, to baptize in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...
"I try," he says simply.
Father Drangov grew up in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the town of
Ihtiman, but traveled a great deal to Pirin Macedonia. His
family has a long and impressive connection to the historic
IMRO (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization). His
paternal grandfather Colonel Boris Drangov, after whom he is
named, was involved with the movement from the time he
attended classes in the Military School together with Gotse
Delcheff and Boris Sarafoff. In the Ilinden Insurrection of
1903 he led a cheta (armed band).
His father Kiril Drangov was involved with IMRO during the
time of legendary Todor Alexandroff and Ivan Mihailoff. He
knew Todor Alexandroff very well. Kiril became president of "Vardar",
the student organization at the University in Sofia, which
worked for a free and autonomous Macedonia. During these days,
he developed a very strong friendship with Ivan Mihailoff,
Jordan Tchkatroff, the latter being his best friend, Peter
Atzeff, Assen Avramoff and Luben Dimitroff. All are now
deceased.
Father Boris’ maternal grandfather and all his brothers also
were involved in IMRO. His mother’s uncle Dimitar Zaneshev
attended the IMRO convention at Salonika when the decision was
made for the 1903 Ilinden uprising for the freedom of
Macedonia from Ottoman yoke.
"All my ancestors for four, five, six, seven generations were
Bulgarians. Many of them fought for the freedom of Macedonia
and some of them died", he emphasizes, explaining that when
the communists came to power, "all of my father’s friends who
worked for the liberation of Macedonia were killed at the
request of Tito and the order of Stalin because they did not
agree to declare themselves as Macedonians. If they agreed,
they would not have died."
Father Drangov firmly believes everyone has the right to
declare himself as he likes, but nobody has the right to
change the nationality of someone who is dead.
After graduation from high school Fr. Drangov attended St.
John of Rila Seminary, then St. Clement of Ohrid Theological
Academy, which is now again a faculty of Sofia University, but
during his time was separated from the university.
Upon graduation he taught at St. John’s for five years, then
served two years in the Department of Education at the Holy
Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and another four years
in the church museum. He specialized in the field of Christian
art and church archaeology. Fr. Nikolai Georgiev is the new
priest at St. George. He and his wife Prezvitera Lina are
blessed with two children - Anthony and Elena. |
