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In Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, stands one of the largest Orthodox Churches in the world – St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.  It is not only the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria but a national shrine, symbol of the Bulgarian nation and a main tourist attraction.  If you visited the cathedral between the approximate years of 2000 – 2018 you would have been greeted by a poorly dressed, elderly man, holding a plastic cup who seemed to be just another homeless beggar.  This man was Dobri Dobrev, sometimes called “Elder Dobri” or “Grandpa Dobri”.  This simple man walked 12 miles each day from the village of Bailovo to the cathedral to beg money.  Living poorly in a tiny room attached to the village church, he used the money not for himself but to support charities:  churches, orphanages, monasteries and the cathedral.  It is estimated that he gave away over $70,000 in support to these causes.  While the Orthodox Church and the Bulgarian government often disagreed as to who was responsible for the upkeep of the Cathedral, this old man with a plastic cup gave more to support the Cathedral and other charities than any of the most wealthy Bulgarians.

In Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, stands one of the largest Orthodox Churches in the world – St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.  It is not only the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria but a national shrine, symbol of the Bulgarian nation and a main tourist attraction.  If you visited the cathedral between the approximate years of 2000 – 2018 you would have been greeted by a poorly dressed, elderly man, holding a plastic cup who seemed to be just another homeless beggar.  This man was Dobri Dobrev, sometimes called “Elder Dobri” or “Grandpa Dobri”.  This simple man walked 12 miles each day from the village of Bailovo to the cathedral to beg money.  Living poorly in a tiny room attached to the village church, he used the money not for himself but to support charities:  churches, orphanages, monasteries and the cathedral.  It is estimated that he gave away over $70,000 in support to these causes.  While the Orthodox Church and the Bulgarian government often disagreed as to who was responsible for the upkeep of the Cathedral, this old man with a plastic cup gave more to support the Cathedral and other charities than any of the most wealthy Bulgarians.

His Life

Dobri Dimitrov Dobrev was born on July 20, 1914 in the Bulgarian village of Bailovo.  His father Dimitir died in World War I and his mother Katarina was left to raise her children alone.  Dobri was married in 1940 and was blessed with four children, two of whom he outlived.  Little else is known of his personal life since he was reluctant to talk about himself.  This is true of many great saints:  the details of their lives are unimportant, their deeds tell us all we need to know.  It is known that during the bombing of Sofia during World War II, his hearing was permanently damaged by an explosion. 

What is well known is as the years passed he became more and more immersed in his Orthodox Faith.  In 2000 he gave away all that he had to the Church taking literally the words of the Lord:

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give the money to the poor;  and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Matt. 19:21)

Dobri moved into a small shack next to the village church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Bailovo.  He slept on a simple wooden bed, often preferring to sleep on the wooden floor.  His other possessions were few:  his clothes were threadbare and patched.  When was asked why he didn’t keep some of the money he collected for his own needs he replied that he didn’t need anything that more than what he had.  He lived on his monthly government pension of about 80 Euros along with the kindness of others.  He was content with his simple life, echoing the words of St. Paul:

… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)

Every day he traveled by foot to the Cathedral in Sofia, plastic cup in hand, to beg alms.  To every person who entered the Cathedral he bowed deeply  “Everyone has a Guardian Angel.  I bow to his Guardian Angel and ask him to pray for the man”.    To those who put a deposit into his cup, he again bowed deeply or kissed their hands in gratitude.  He gave simple advice and encouragement to those he met:

Pray to your Guardian Angel. 
He helps and prays to God for you.
Read your after-Communion prayers! 
You have to thank God for honoring you.
"We must not lie, nor steal, nor commit adultery.  We must love each other as God loves us."

Grandpa Dobri, was known by many as“The Saint from Bailovo” and became a model of Christian charity and generosity.  He became so well known that a documentary was filmed in Bulgaria called “The Saint of Bailovo” with interviews from his relatives, friends and government officials. 

He fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 103 on February 13, 2018.  Hundreds attended his funeral and burial in the village church of Bailovo including His Holiness, Patriarch Neofytos of Bulgaria. 

Father Seraphim, abbot of Kremikovtsi Monastery in an interview on Bulgarian television said:

“Grandpa Dobri was a Bulgarian man like all of us but at the same time he was great, a giant which we cannot imagine, an entire cosmos.  He was a man who had extraordinary faith in God and knew that was the meaning of all of life, and that was actually what he wanted to show us.  Elder Dobri deeply believed that Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people would be renewed in their faith by God after going through trials and difficulties.  He did not raise funds for the sake of the money, but to make people merciful; he wanted to encourage them  with their gift, to awaken in them a sense of charity for others, and to help the people in that when they show mercy,  God will be merciful to them.”

 Sell What You Have?

 “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give the money to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

One day a man came to Jesus asking:  “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?   Jesus’ response was simple yet radical!  Grandpa Dobri did exactly what Jesus asked of this man.  Is this required of all Christians?   Should we announce to our husbands, wives, or children later today:  “Guess what?…, I’ve sold our house and our car and gave all the money to the poor!”  It is significant is that nowhere else in the Gospels does Jesus require this of anyone.  Evidently this man who spoke with Jesus was possessed by his possessions and Jesus knew he needed radical surgery to be cured of this disease. 

Today, there are men and women who are called to such a radical lifestyle.  Monasteries across the country are bursting at the seams with young men and women who reject the materialism of our society and the endless accumulation of “stuff”.  They have left everything to follow Christ completely.

For the rest of us who have families to care for and responsibilities, what can we do?

Two things:

1.  Never forget that we own nothing, all is on loan to us from God.

 St. John Chrysostom wrote:

“All of us have the use of goods, but no one has the ownership. Although the goods remain, yet when we die, we have to leave them to others.  We can only make use of them in this life and we are deprived  of their possession in the life hereafter.” (Homily 2 on Statutes)

We are the stewards, the managers of the property of someone else:  God.  All we have is a gift from Him:  our life, our time, our talents, our treasure.  This is the concept of “stewardship” that has replaced the use of “church dues” in many Orthodox parishes. We freely “give back” to serve God a portion of His gifts to us. 

2. The Owner of all things will return to evaluate how we have managed His property.

Have we wasted our time, talents, treasure in selfish pursuits?  Have we used a portion of them to care for His Church and His people?  Jesus also said: “To him whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)  As God has blessed us with His gifts of time, talents, and treasure He requires us to give back a portion of these to care for His Church and His people.  Grandpa Dobri went beyond what is required of most Christians:  he left everything in order to follow Christ completely and to serve His Church and His people.  Well done good and faithful servant!  (Matthew 25:23)

 - Very Rev. Dr. Edward Pehanich

Watch Documentary Movie on Elder Dobri