The 100-year-old Orthodox church "St. George" in the burnt village of Voden in Yambol remained intact amid the raging fires. The flames have engulfed the entire area around the holy abode, and miraculously the fire did not affect the building. There is no trace of living vegetation around the church, and the fire also affected the houses located next to the church.
This is what BNT is saying.
One of the most devastating fires recorded in its history the Yambol village of Voden. But among the ashes rises the symbol of faith - the local church “St. George”. The traces of the fire literally pass by the temple and seem to surround it on purpose. Even the tall trees in the churchyard remain intact and green compared to the burnt meadows of vegetation that surround the holy abode.
“There was such an opportunity to burn the church. But I don't know how he survived, said Lubo Kolev.
“The church fence saved the church. Because it is a stone fence, the fire came close to the church, I was there the same day when it was burning around the church," says Hristo Hristov, mayor of Bolyarovo Municipality.
The church was built in 1841 and was already burned down during the Russian-Turkish liberation war. With the help of donations collected over the years by the inhabitants of the village, a massive stone fence was built.
“We gathered all the people before we started. We elected a new church board and a donation campaign began. The people who responded, I think, collected about BGN 20,000," said Hristo Hristov, Mayor of Bolyarovo Municipality.
“Thanks to the work of the mayor of the municipality, they managed to fight back and restore the wall. The entire wall was overgrown with vegetation, and if it wasn't cleared this summer, it too would burn. It is exactly 100 years old. At one time, they drove all the stones on their backs with live animals,” said Stefan Kolev.
“The municipality helped with a decision of the Municipal Council for additional funds and in the end we were able to repair the roof of the church. The Metropolitanate of Sliven also helped. He was one of those “Turkish” shingles, as they are called. Now they have been replaced”, says Hristo Hristov, mayor of Bolyarovo Municipality.
And the locals believe that a miracle saved the temple from the fiery hell and God's hand preserved their holy place.
“How could I not be happy. It is the holiest in Woden. Is there anything else left?”, asks Ivanka.
At the moment, the temple in the village of Voden also needs repairs in the interior. However, it remains a symbol of hope and new beginnings.