Sofia interfaith concert shows power of shared cultural witness, IMFC says

SOFIA, Bulgaria — An interfaith concert held at Bulgaria’s Royal Palace “Vrana” offered a compelling example of how religious communities can share public space while preserving their distinct traditions.

The Feb. 21 event, titled “Bridges of Harmony,” was organized by BRIDGES – Eastern European Forum for Dialogue as part of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week. The program brought together music, poetry and dance connected to Orthodox Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Armenian traditions.

The concert illustrated the value of interfaith engagement rooted not in erasing difference but in fostering mutual respect and cooperation across communities.

Held in partnership with Palace “Vrana” and the Tsar Boris and Queen Goanna Foundation, and supported by the Austrian Embassy in Sofia, the event took place in a setting organizers said symbolized coexistence. According to published accounts, the palace grounds include both Orthodox and Catholic chapels, reinforcing the evening’s message of harmony across faith lines.

Guests included religious representatives, diplomats and civil society figures. Among those named in public reporting were Father Haralampi Nichev, an archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Sait Uyanık and Chinese Ambassador Dai Qingli. Prince Boris Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, identified as host and a BRIDGES board member, welcomed attendees and recognized the role of the Tsar Boris and Queen Goanna Foundation in supporting the event.

The concert’s emphasis on youth participation was especially significant. Young performers and presenters played a central role throughout the program, reflecting what the coalition views as an essential investment in the next generation of interfaith leadership.

The evening opened with harp music by Aleksandrina Kushincharova, followed by Orthodox chants performed by students from the Sofia Theological Seminary “St. John of Rila” under the direction of Stoyan Malinov.

The program then moved through a range of musical and cultural expressions, including a Mozart piano quartet performed by students from the National Music School “Lyubomir Pipkov,” an “Ave Maria” performed by Yoanna Baruch of the Jewish community, and marimba performances featuring works by Bach, Rachmaninoff and Rimsky-Korsakov.

The second half of the concert included Armenian traditional dance by the Armenian Dance Group “YAN” and recitations of poetry associated with Jalaluddin Rumi by young participants from different religious communities. The evening closed with a performance of “Mnogaya Leta” by the seminarians.

According to published reports, organizers described the concert as more than a cultural presentation, framing it as an act of encounter and dialogue. Messages of support were sent by religious leaders unable to attend, including United Religions Initiative board chair Eric Roux, who praised the young performers for using their talents in service to humanity.

BRIDGES also connected the concert to its wider interfaith work. Its 2024 program, “Gift of Love,” received first prize in the World Interfaith Harmony Week awards, and organizers said they intend to submit “Bridges of Harmony” for similar recognition.

The Sofia event shows how interfaith cooperation can be expressed not only through formal dialogue and policy work, but also through shared cultural experience. As religion in Europe is often discussed in the context of political tension, migration and security, the concert offered a different model — one rooted in shared dignity, public goodwill and the possibility of building community across lines of belief.