God called Bishop Petko Hristov to His Home

Today, September 14 – which marks the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, at 6:25 am, in His infinite mercy God called to His Home Bishop Petko Hristov – Bishop of Nikopol and President of Caritas Bulgaria.

Caritas Bulgaria offers its deepest condolences to the clergy and the faithful of the Diocese of Nikopol.

Bishop Petko Hristov was formally elected President of Caritas Bulgaria at the XVIII National Conference, held on December 1, 2001 in Sofia. From 1997 to 2020, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the diocesan organisation Caritas Ruse. Bishop Hristov was also among the founders of the parish Caritas Belene organisation (1992-1993).

As President of Caritas Bulgaria, Bishop Hristov selflessly offered his wisdom and amiable spirit for the development of charitable activities under the social arm of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria. During his time, he presided over the establishment of a number of new services and support centres for vulnerable people, among which children’s centres, home care centres for the elderly, a designated service in support of migrants and refugees, and a homeless shelter.

Bishop Hristov’s time is also linked with the establishment of Caritas School – a formative training programme aiming to improve the professional capacity and motivation of all Caritas Bulgaria’s staff and volunteers, so that children and young people at risk and with disabilities, single mothers, the elderly, the homeless, refugees and all others to whom Caritas offers help receive the level and quality of support they deserve in order to continue their lives with dignity.

During the leadership of Bishop Petko Hristov, Caritas Bulgaria gained a number of recognitions and awards and established itself as a reliable partner who – through its charitable work, seeks to make the world a better place for all.

In 2013, at an official ceremony held in Sofia, the organisation of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” awarded Bishop Petko Hristov with the annual Shofar Award for Caritas’ significant contributions in promoting ethnic and religious tolerance.

All of us at Caritas Bulgaria offer our due and humble respects to Bishop Petko Hristov, without whom the charitable organisation of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria would not be what it looks like today.

We all remain united in prayer for the eternal repose of the soul of Bishop Petko Hristov, President of Caritas Bulgaria.

God rest his soul! May his memory be eternal and blessed!

A Funeral Liturgy for Bishop Petko Hristov will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Cathedral of St. Paul of the Cross, Ruse.