On September 14, 2020, our confrere, the Most Reverend Petko Jordanov CHRISTOV, OFM Conv., Bishop of Nikopol was called to the house of the Lord. The bishop passed away in the city hospital of Ruse, Bulgaria.
Petko Jordanov CHRISTOV was born on October 9, 1950, in Velcevo, a town in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tărnovo Province. After basic schooling, he graduated as a construction expert in the city of Veliko Tărnovo, with a specialization in “Building and Architecture”.
On April 17, 1977, he received the Sacrament of Confirmation from the Most Reverend Bogdan DOBRANOV, then Bishop of Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The ceremony took place at St. Joseph’s Church in Sofia, Bulgaria. From there, Petko began his journey towards the priesthood.
On October 20, 1985, he was ordained to the diaconate and on December 15, 1985, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Samuel DJOUNDRINE, then Bishop of Nikopol. Starting June 20, 1986, Father Petko served as the Associate Pastor for Pastor Filip ROMANOV at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Belene.
Meanwhile, Father Petko professed his simple vows with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in 1990 and his solemn vows on December 15, 1993.
In 1994, he was transferred to the city of Ruse and on January 6, 1995, Pope John Paul II consecrated him as the Bishop of Nikopol, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
On January 25, 1995, Bishop CHRISTOV took possession of the Cathedral of St. Paul of the Cross, in Ruse, the seat of the Diocese of Nikopol. He was installed by Decree no. 001 dated January 25, 1995. Those attending the ceremony included the Most Reverend Mario RIZZI, then Apostolic Nuncio to Bulgaria, Bishop DJOUNDRINE, and the priests of the Diocese of Nikopol.
Bishop CHRISTOV served as the President of a number of commissions in the Episcopal Conference of Bulgaria, namely, the Commission for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; the Commission for Ecumenism and Unity among Christians; and the Commission for Activities in the Church. In addition, the 18th National Conference held December 1, 2001, in Sofia, elected Bishop CHRISTOV as the President of the “Caritas of Bulgaria” [a charitable institution]. In 1997, he became a member of the board of directors of the “Caritas of Ruse”.
The funeral liturgy for Bishop CHRISTOV will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Paul of the Cross, in Ruse, on September 19, 2020, at noon local time.
Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the Lord God welcome him into His dwelling place.
Father Strahil KAVALENOV, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Nikopol
