I’ve been in Pliska (ex-Capital) of Bulgaria on the feast of Saint King Boris (Mikhail) the baptiser of Bulgaria. Pliska is an ancient city and the liturgy was held in an old runed partially restored Big Basilica under a open-sky. For the service mitropolitans from all autocephalous Orthodox Churches were present and the service was highly joyous event as 1150 of Christianity is a long time. The patriarch of Bulgarian Orthodox chues Neofit was also there about probably 1000 people come for the feast. The reason to celebrate the all-orthodox service in this Basilica is not a coincidence but on purpose since Basilica was part of a monastery complex built by King Boris Mihail (King Boris spend last 10 years of his life as a monk in a monastery leaving the kingdom to his 2nd Son Simeon). The service was mostly majestic and I had the oportunity to see our still livingKing Simeon (Saxe-Coburg-Gotha ) who is officially annointed to be King and a descendant of last Bulgarian king after Liberation from Turkish Slavery (King Boris III) – a last Bulgarian king before the impious communist take the power for 45 years. Though the service was truly majestic it was evident that about 70% of people present had absolutely no idea about Orthodox Christian service but came there by accident or just for a spectacle coming to see the King along with the current Premier of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov and the President Rosen Plevneliev. The sad thing about the service was at the end of service only The Metropolitans and the patriarch received Communion (not allowing anyone to take the communion), making a bad impression to ordinary layman and letting the impression the Church is just for the Elite. The service was also used to give a prize to The King and Boyko Borisov (saint John of Rila) 1st and 2nd degree and some kind of recognition to the president. We were in Pliska with people who were witness to our marriage Galin and Andrea and their 3 kids (Georgi, Konstantin and Boryana), we had to walk to Pliska’s basilica which is situated about 3km far from the end of the village because some policeman didn’t allow us to continue by car (worried for security of premier / king and president). On the 3 km way there was policeman installed observing whether some criminal intenting to kill the honorous aristocracy (king, premier and president). Our top elite people come in black cars, the premier come around the half of Church service showing unseriousness about his claimed faith in Christ and respect for Church. Also I learned that none of 3 heroes stayed for the official meal given for guest Metropolitans, deacons, priests and church delegates. After the end of service we walked back to car and travelled to Shoumen (Shumen) where we had a great walk around the city center which is mostly beautiful, we saw one of the 100 landmarks of Bulgaria which is an enormous Mosque (the biggest in Bulgaria – Tombul Djamija). We also went to a Shumen fortress which is a well preserved ancient fortress and a must see to anyone interested into history more about Shumen Fortress here – http://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A8%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0_%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82