160th Anniversary of Resurrectionists in Bulgaria

160 years ago, on April 25, 1863, two resurrectionists: Fr. Karol Kaczanowski CR and brother Marcin Janus CR set off on board the steamer “Meinam” to Constantinople and from there to the then Bulgarian land to Adrianople (now Edirne in Turkey). Earlier, at the audience, the Pope – Blessed Pius IX, when he saw these first Bulgarian missionaries, said to the Superior General, Fr. Jerome Kajsiewicz CR: “You are sending an old man and a child. Your beginnings are really bad!”

These “poor” beginnings initiated a beautiful chapter in the history of the Resurrectionists on Bulgarian soil, which continues to this day. As many examples from the life of the Church and the Gospel itself confirm, “poor beginnings” are usually the leaven of the Gospel. Where a person does not see opportunities and opportunities for development, God steps in with his own scenario that exceeds human capabilities. All he expects from a person is: “Here I am!”