Ivan Stoyanov is a Bessarabian Bulgarian from Moldova. Our team met him in the Bulgarian church of Sophronius of Vratsa, where we were working on another episode of the Bridge of Faith podcast, dedicated to the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Lyon, France.
The family of Ivan and his amiable wife, with their two boys and their little daughter, immediately caught our attention for their togetherness, their special warmth and care for each other. Their cordial attitude towards the other Bulgarians of the parish, and especially their devout and reverent behaviour during the service, stood out.
Our compatriot is from Moldova. He has been living with his family in Bordeaux, France, for 15 years. In Moldova, he graduated from the 'Ivan Vazov' Theoretical Lyceum in Taraclia (southern Moldova) and later earned one of the two places reserved for the Bulgarian community for theological studies in Bulgaria — one at the University of Veliko Tarnovo and the other at the University of Shumen. Ivan then moved to Bulgaria and graduated with a degree in theology from the University of Shumen.
As he tells his story, his eyes fill with tears at the memory of his father, who had never seen Bulgaria but was brought up with a love for the country. Ivan remembers his words when he sent him to study in Shumen. "When you get there, my son, bend down and kiss the ground".
He did. And when he left for France, he took with him a piece of this land that was sacred to him and his loved ones. So that his roots would never wither.
"That's why I am in the Church. Church life is about preserving traditions. The Church is in our blood. When we say 'Bulgarian', we immediately mean 'Orthodox Christian'. This is how Ivan Stoyanov raises his children - in the Bulgarian spirit, which for him is equivalent to the spirit of Orthodoxy.
"My children see me and they only know good things about Bulgaria, they know that there are good people there. I only tell them the good things: about the mountains, the dances, how to pray, about the bravery of the people - and they are proud of their roots. They see me as a father and a protector. But I know that without God I'm no protector at all. It is in Him that I put my trust."
He teaches his children to trust in God. To draw strength, wisdom, hope and support from Him - to infuse their entire lives with prayer. Whatever they do, they should start with prayer and not take a single step without God.
“We have three - Ivan, Dimitar, and Sofia. Every morning we get up, hug each other, say the Lord's Prayer and go to work or school. When we come back, before we go to bed, we stand in front of the icons, hug each other, pray and go to sleep".
As he looks back and reflects on all that he has experienced, Ivan Stoyanov realises that God has guided him throughout his journey, that nothing in his life is accidental. He also realises that God has never left him alone, but has loved, supported and comforted him in times of trial. He sees and recognises God with his heart all around him and this presence of God gives peace and joy to his soul.
Ivan firmly believes that it is only through the Bulgarian Orthodox traditions - which have preserved our people through the centuries - that his children and our compatriots will be able to keep the 'salt' in their lives. It is this "salt", he is convinced, that protects us from the corruption of this world. He recalled the words of the Saviour to His followers: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot" (Matthew 5:13).
"For who are we if we give up our faith? Who are we then? - Ivan says. We must ask ourselves this question: Who are we without Christ? We will lose our salt. We will be cast out. We will be trampled underfoot. That's why I want my life to be of use to those around me, as Christ has shown us by His example."
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