SOFIA, Bulgaria – Thirty young people from 19 localities across Bulgaria came together in Sofia from 28 to 30 August for Garden of Peace, an inte…
SOFIA, Bulgaria – Thirty young people from 19 localities across Bulgaria came together in Sofia from 28 to 30 August for Garden of Peace, an interfaith youth camp organized by BRIDGES – Eastern European Forum for Dialogue Association (URI Cooperation Circle). Bringing together participants from five religious and cultural traditions, the three-day programme combined encounters with religious communities, dialogue, youth leadership, music and cultural exchange.
The participants, aged 15 to 18, included both young people who had previously taken part in BRIDGES camps, concerts and trainings and newcomers experiencing the organization’s work for the first time. Teachers from four partner schools, young facilitators and members of the BRIDGES team also contributed to the programme.
Rather than approaching religious diversity only through presentations or classroom discussions, Garden of Peace invited participants to encounter it directly, through visits to places of worship, conversations with religious representatives, shared cultural experiences and opportunities to work together.
Sofia’s interfaith landscape
The programme began at the Sofia Synagogue, where participants learned about Jewish traditions, community life and the history of Bulgarian Jews. Discussions about memory, moral choices and solidarity encouraged the young people to consider how communities can take responsibility for one another.
At Vrana Royal Palace, the group was welcomed by H.R.H. Prince Boris of Tarnovo, who, as host and member of the BRIDGES board, officially opened the Garden of Peace camp.
The visit to Vrana Palace also carried strong symbolism. The participants learned about the history of the two palace chapels, connected with the different Christian traditions in the royal family – the Christian Orthodox chapel “St. Tsar Boris I and St. John of Rila” and the Roman Catholic chapel, associated with the Catholic tradition in the royal family.
This encounter with the history of the two chapels became a kind of symbol of dialogue and coexistence between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. In the spirit of the well-known metaphor of the “two lungs of Christianity” – East and West – the participants discussed how different traditions can not simply exist in parallel, but meet, communicate, and build a shared space of respect and understanding.
In this symbolic conversation, a special role was played by Father Nikolay Georgiev, Chairman of the Church Board of the Metropolitan Cathedral Church “St. Nedelya” in Sofia, priest to the Royal Family and spiritual mentor of the “King Boris and Queen Ioanna” Foundation, and Monsignor Petko Valov, Bishop of the Catholic Apostolic Exarchate (Sofia Diocese “St. John XXIII”).
The two fathers symbolically led the young participants along the “bridge of dialogue,” presenting the history of the Orthodox and Catholic presence in the life of the royal family. Thus, the historical space became a natural setting for a conversation about unity, differences, and the possibility of peaceful coexistence between Christian denominations.
Just as Christianity can “breathe with its two lungs – East and West,” so too is a culture of peace built through encounter, mutual respect, and dialogue. This very idea lies at the heart of “Garden of Peace.”
The surrounding park also provided a natural setting for exploring the central metaphor of the camp: a garden in which different forms of life can coexist, while diversity becomes a source of richness rather than division.
On the second day, the group continued through Sofia’s religious landscape – heading to the Square of Tolerance – a landmark location in the center of Sofia, where places of worship of different religious communities are located in close proximity to one another. During the day, the participants visited the Banya Bashi Mosque, the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral “St. Nedelya,” and the Catholic Cathedral “St. Joseph.”
The first stop was the Banya Bashi Mosque – one of the most recognizable symbols of Sofia and one of the few preserved Ottoman monuments in the city. The mosque was built in the 16th century and is associated with the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. The name “Banya Bashi” is connected to its proximity to the former mineral baths.
The group was warmly welcomed by Emine Sechkina, who, with great care and hospitality, spoke about the history of the mosque, the Muslim community, and the role of the temple not only as a place of prayer, but also as a space for meetings, communication, and peace.
The participants then continued to the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral “St. Nedelya,” passing through the historic center of Sofia and the area of ancient Serdica.
At the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral “St. Nedelya,” the group was welcomed by Father Nikolay Georgiev, who introduced participants to the church’s history and its significance for Sofia’s Orthodox community, drawing also on personal and family stories. He spoke about the cathedral’s historical connections with the Bulgarian royal family and the tragic bombing of 16 April 1925, when more than 130 people were killed and hundreds injured. Father Nikolay, who has researched the victims by name, helped participants understand “St. Nedelya” not only as a religious landmark but also as a place of remembrance and a powerful reminder of the human consequences of political violence and division.
The final stop was the Catholic Cathedral “St. Joseph,” an important part of Sofia’s religious and architectural heritage and a central place for the Catholic community in the capital. The first church on the site was built in the 19th century and was later destroyed during the bombing of Sofia in World War II. The present cathedral was built on the same site and consecrated in 2006. Father Zbigniev from the Order of St. Francis welcomed the participants and spoke about the history of the church, the Catholic community in Bulgaria and its work with young people. The meeting also introduced participants to the diversity within the Catholic tradition, including the Eastern Rite Catholic community, represented by BRIDGES youth team member Matteo de Crinis. Svetlana Karadzhova, BRIDGES board member further presented the history of Western Rite Catholics in Bulgaria and the Banat Bulgarian community, sharing both historical context and her personal connection to this heritage.
Meetings with representatives of the different communities moved beyond questions of religious history and traditions to discussions about identity, belonging, faith and coexistence.
For the participants, these encounters offered an opportunity to ask questions directly and hear personal perspectives that may otherwise remain unfamiliar. The experience highlighted one of the central principles of the programme: dialogue begins with meeting people, listening to their stories and being willing to see an issue from another perspective.
Young people take the lead
Youth leadership was a central element of the camp. Young facilitators Silvia, Dimitar and Ahmed helped guide discussions and activities, while returning participants shared how previous BRIDGES and URI Europe initiatives had influenced their understanding of diversity and dialogue.
The camp also connected young people in Bulgaria with the wider family of the United Religions Initiative (URI). URI Global Council Chair Eric Roux sent a special video message.
Sarah Oliver from URI Global and young people from the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative CC connect on ZOOM. The two youth groups introduced their communities and spoke about their respective experiences of religious diversity. The meeting also sparked interest in a possible future international youth exchange that would bring the groups together in person.
The connection reflected the broader role of URI in linking grassroots interfaith initiatives and creating opportunities for communities in different parts of the world to learn from one another.
A concert turns diversity into harmony
One of the highlights of the programme was the Garden of Peace concert, which brought together young musicians, dancers, poets and participants from different communities and countries.
Inspired by stained glass, the concert was structured around four thematic “windows.” Each represented a different colour and story, while together they formed a single image—reflecting the idea that people do not need to abandon their individual identities in order to live together in harmony.
The programme included classical and Balkan music, Armenian dance, Bulgarian poetry, poetry by Rumi and a bilingual Prayer for Peace. The evening concluded with Bulgarian traditional music and a shared horo dance, bringing performers, participants and guests together.
The concert also underlined the international dimension of the initiative. Among the official guests were H.E. Mehmet Sait Uyanık, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey; H.E. Pierre Hagmann, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation; H.E. Milan Ravich, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia; H.E. Rosario Asela Molinero Molinero, Ambassador of the United Mexican States, accredited to Bulgaria; H.E. Nader Saad, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt; H.E. Dai Qingli, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China; and H.E. Inid Milo, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania.
Representatives of different religious communities were also present, including Father Ivelin Genov and Sisters Elka Staneva and Svetla Zekova from the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as Father Ilarion from Bachkovo Monastery. Pastor Traicho and Ina Stefanovi, representing the Protestant community, also attended. Iva Mihaylova, Deputy Head of Mission and Counsellor at the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Bulgaria and spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, was also among the official guests. Their participation brought together representatives of diplomatic, religious and civic communities around an initiative centered on young people and the practical work of building dialogue and understanding.
From dialogue to action
The final day focused on what participants and organizers could take forward from the experience.
Young people reflected on the camp and developed ideas and personal commitments for continued engagement. At the same time, teachers from the participating schools and the BRIDGES team held a working meeting dedicated to follow-up activities and opportunities for further development of the programme.
The BRIDGES teachers’ network expressed its readiness to make an even more active contribution to the organization’s mission and to become involved in future initiatives.
The day also introduced a practical dimension to the camp’s focus on communication and cooperation. Dimitar Borumov presented Motivation 4.0, an interactive board game developed as a tool for strengthening emotional intelligence and improving interaction within teams and working environments.
Members of the BRIDGES team, together with young participants and their leaders from Garden of Peace, had the opportunity to try the game, developed by Prof. dr. Valentin Vasilev and his team. Through game situations and group discussions, participants explored different perspectives on the role of emotional intelligence, trust and effective communication in teamwork.
The activity complemented the wider themes of the camp, translating ideas about listening, understanding different perspectives and building trust into a practical team experience.
What comes after the camp?
By the end of the three days, the focus had shifted from what the participants had experienced to what they could do next.
Participants expressed a desire for more frequent opportunities to meet across religious and cultural differences and to continue working on tolerance, mutual respect and understanding. Teachers and the BRIDGES team also discussed ways of maintaining the network created through the programme and developing future activities for young people.
“We believe that young people should not simply talk about change but be its drivers,”
said Angelina Vladikova, Chair of BRIDGES CC and URI Europe CC Liaison.
That idea ultimately shaped Garden of Peace. The camp did not seek to make differences disappear. Instead, it created opportunities for young people to encounter those differences directly, ask questions, form relationships and discover common ground. With participants returning to 19 different localities across Bulgaria, the impact of the gathering will extend beyond the three days in Sofia if those new relationships develop into continued collaboration and local action.
Photo credit: Kamen Vuldzhev
Angelina Vladikova, BRIDGES Chair
Dimitar Borumov, URI Global Council Trustee
