#serdica

[illustratus]

Roman period Head of Apollo

[twofielder]

Coin of the Day #73 (7/16/2024)

A big bronze that happens to be an RPC example…

Roman Province - Thrace

AE28 - 17.05g

Gallienus 253-268 AD

Serdica Mint

Obverse AVT K ΓAΛΛIHNOC

Bust of Gallienus right, laureate, cuirassed

Reverse OVΛΠIAC CEPΔIKHC

Zeus standing right, holding Eagle and thunderbolt

RPC X 67706

[everyday1photo]

Serdica ancient city and Bulgarian Communist Party Building

[pharmaciacatholica]

Dictatus Papae: Principles of the Papacy in the 11th Century

*My (amateur) attempt at proving the articles of Pope Gregory VII*

Article I: The Roman Church was founded by God alone.

The proof for this is well known; found in the Gospel according to Matthew 16:16-19:

Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

And further: we read from Lactantius in his On the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died:

And while Nero reigned, the Apostle Peter came to Rome, and, through the power of God committed unto him, wrought certain miracles, and, by turning many to the true religion, built up a faithful and steadfast temple unto the Lord.

Article II: The Roman Pontiff alone can with right be called "Universal".

Pope Saint Gregory the Great could not be more clear on this point in his letter (Book 5 Letter 18) to John the Faster:

Was it not the case, as your Fraternity knows, that the prelates of this Apostolic See which by the providence of God I serve, had the honour offered them of being called universal by the venerable Council of Chalcedon. But yet not one of them has ever wished to be called by such a title, or seized upon this ill-advised name, lest if, in virtue of the rank of the pontificate, he took to himself the glory of singularity, he might seem to have denied it to all his brethren.

Article III: He alone can depose or reinstate bishops.

As to to the former proposition (that of deposing) we have recourse to Constantinople IV (869):

We, however, follow and embrace the holy synod that Pope Nicholas of blessed memory conducted before the most sacred body of Peter, pre-eminent among the apostles, to which you yourself, the coangelic and supreme pontiff Hadrian, subscribed, and also the one that you yourself lately held. In accordance with the ruling of your decree we shall observe with the greatest respect all the statutes of these synods, receiving those they receive and condemning all whom they condemned, especially the aforementioned Photius and Gregory of Syracuse, those parricides who did not fear to exercise their tongues against their spiritual father. And we judge that all who persevere in schism, both their followers and those who remain in the fellowship of their communion, are as unworthy as they are of the grace of communion, if they do not obey you. For whoever joins himself to their communion has deserved the same sentence as they received, whether of acquittal or condemnation.

As to the latter proposition (that of reinstating) we see the Greek version of Canon 3 of the Synod at Serdica:

But if perchance sentence be given against a bishop in any matter and he supposes his case to be not unsound but good, in order that the question may be reopened, let us, if it seem good to your charity, honour the memory of Peter the Apostle, and let those who gave judgment write to Julius, the bishop of Rome, so that, if necessary, the case may be retried by the bishops of the neighbouring provinces and let him appoint arbiters; but if it cannot be shown that his case is of such a sort as to need a new trial, let the judgment once given not be annulled, but stand good as before.

And moreover we read in Pope John VIII’s letter to the Emperor Basil I:

For even the legates of the Apostolic See who were sent to Constantinople by our predecessor, the eminent Pontiff Hadrian, gave their well considered assent to the synod held there 'with the approval of their Pontiff', nor did they wish to remain severed from the Apostolicus [the Pope], since the See of St Peter, the key-bearer of the heavenly kingdom, has after due consideration power to absolve prelates from all ties. It is well known that many Patriarchs, Anastasius and Cyril of Alexandria, Flavianus and John of Constantinople and Polychronius of Jerusalem, who were condemned by synods, were promptly acquitted and reinstated by the Apostolic See.

Article IV: In council, his Legate, even if a lower grade, is above all bishops and can pass sentence of deposition against them.

A priest by the name of Boniface represented Pope Leo at the Council of Chalcedon. In the opening announcements, Boniface is cited prior to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Saint Anatolius, as if he was in the place of the Roman Pontiff himself. Ergo, etc.

Later, the Patriarch Dioscorus I of Alexandria was deposed on the authority of Boniface acting as Legate of the Apostolic See.

Article V: The Pope may depose the absent.

Pope Saint Zosimus condemns Caelestius in Letter 45 after Caelestius fled Rome.

Article VI: Among other things, we ought not to remain in the same house with those excommunicated by him.

If the previous articles are true, then, therefore etc.

Article VII: For him alone is it lawful, according to the needs of the time, to make new laws, to assemble together new congregations, to make an abbey of a canonry, and, on the other.

The papal priveleges of Sylvester II, in which we read of his establishing a monastery on the Authority of Peter:

If anyone, by rash boldness, however, shall attempt to contravene this document of our apostolic confirmation, though this seems impossible, let him be advised that he will have been held fast by the chain of the anathema of Our Lord [and] " of Peter, prince of the apostles, to be consumed in the everlasting fire with the devil and his most vicious retinue, and also with Judas, betrayer of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sent down into the Tartarean depths to perish with the wicked. May he who is, indeed, the guardian and respecter of this our privilege receive the grace of benediction and eternal life from the Lord.

Article VIII: He alone may use the Imperial Insignia.

This article was actually directly derived from the famous forgery of the Donation of Constantine:

And when, the blessed Sylvester preaching them, I perceived these things, and learned that by the kindness of St. Peter himself I had been entirely restored to health: I together with all our satraps and the whole senate and the nobles and all the Roman people, who are subject to the glory of our rule -considered it advisable that, as on earth he (Peter) is seen to have been constituted vicar of the Son of God, so the pontiffs, who are the representatives of that same chief of the apostles, should obtain from us and our empire the power of a supremacy greater than the earthly clemency of our imperial serenity is seen to have had conceded to it,-we choosing that same prince of the apostles, or his vicars, to be our constant intercessors with God. And, to the extent of our earthly imperial power, we decree that his holy Roman church shall be honoured with veneration; and that, more than our empire and earthly throne, the most sacred seat of St. Peter shall be gloriously exalted; we giving to it the imperial power, and dignity of glory, and vigour and honour.

However, I would argue we see this concept manifest very clearly by at least the 5th century. In Pope Saint Leo the Great’s famous letter to Flavian (“the Tome of Leo”) and in Pope Saint Gelasius’ letter to Anastasius Augustus. In which both saintly Roman Pontiffs used the term “auctoritas” to describe their authority. Here is Anglican historian, Dr. Trevor Jalland describing Gelasius’ use of the word in his lecture series entitled Church and Papacy:

Here lies a distinction familiar to students of Roman constitutional law. Auctoritas belonged to the ideal and moral sphere, and just because its force was derived from tradition or from public opinion, it was strictly an ethical concept, as in the case of the Roman Senate, and so differed from the physical potestas endowed with executive imperium, which in the republican period belonged to the populus and was entrusted to the magisttrates only for the period of their office. There was therefore a clear though undefined sense in which auctoritas if compared with potestas could be regarded as the higher of the two, just as moral influence is superior to physical force.

Article IX: All princes shall kiss the feet of the Pope alone.

Evidence for this is found in the second volume of Duchesne’s Liber Pontificalis, which I don’t have access to in English and the scanned Latin is horrible on archive. The quote, as I gathered from elsewhere, supposedly reads as such:

The unanimous Senate then came to kiss his [Pope Valentine] feet with respect and great restraint.

Article X: His name alone shall be spoken in the churches.

Council of Vaison, Canon IV:

It also seemed right to us that the name of the Lord Pope, who at the time will preside over the Apostolic See, be mentioned in our churches.

Article XI: This is the only name in the world.

Follows logically from articles II and X when understood properly.

Article XII: It may be permitted to him to depose emperors.

From the Life of Charlemagne by Einhard the Stammerer:

But Pippin, after he was made King instead of Mayor of the Franks by the authority of Roman Pontiff, exercised sole rule over the Franks for fifteen years…

And Pope Hadrian’s letter to Lotharingia to support the ascent of Louis II:

Therefore, with the apostolic trumpet we warn and with celestial authority we advise Your Loves, most beloved of the Lord's Son, that for the stability of the realm you should now generally take great care to act in all matters concerning our most beloved and spiritual son, the august lord emperor Louis, with the same faith and sincerity of mind which you preserved in your pure hearts for the former emperor Lothar I his father. May no mortal man, no matter what his dignity or glory, be able to call you back by any means or argument from the precept and healthy counsel of the apostolic see, or turn you aside from the path of truth. Nor may you hasten to listen eagerly to anyone's precepts more than to those of the Apostle Peter, pronounced by our lips, which are more useful to you.

This article also flows logically from the breakdown of Pope Saint Leo and Pope Saint Gelasius’ remarks above.

Article XIII: It may be permitted to him to transfer bishops, if need be.

Gerbert of Aurillac was Bishop of Rheims before being deposed by Pope John XV. He was then made Bishop of Revenna by Pope Gregory V shortly before he himself was elected to the papacy as Sylvester II. This sort of thing was common, particularly in France and and Isles.

Article XIV: He has the power to ordain the clerk of any parish he wishes.

Fr. Richard Price summarizes Letter 9 from Pope Saint Martin in his Acts of the Lateran Synod of 649:

To the churches of Jerusalem and Antioch (PL 87. 175-9). Martin communicates the substance of the synod's decrees - its dyenergist and dyothelete definitions and its condemnation of Sergius, Pyrrhus and Paul of Constantinople. Those addressed are the bishops, clergy, monks and laity of the patriarchates of Jerusalem and Antioch, since (as the letter states) Martin refused to recognise the two oriental patriarchs at this date loyal to Chalcedon (Macedonius of Antioch and Peter of Alexandria, both probably resident in Constantinople) because of their acceptance of the Typos; this he gives as the grounds for his mandating John of Philadelphia, as his representative, to ordain bishops and priests.

This Synod was upheld ecumenically at Constantinople III.

Article XV: He who is ordained by the Pope may preside over another church, but may not hold a subordinate position. Such a person may not receive a higher clerical grade from any other bishop.

Origen’s ordination, and the subsequent crashout of Patriarch Demetrius, proves this if the previous articles are correct.

Article XVI: No synod shall be called a 'General Synod' without his order.

Second Council of Nicaea:

and, moreover, I should demand that an Ecumenical Council should be held, at which should be found Legates from the Pope of Rome and from the Chief Priests of the East.

Article XVII: No chapter and no book shall be considered canonical without his authority.

Canon XXI of the Synod of Tours:

Which among the bishops would dare go against the decretals issued by the Apostolic See? [...] And whose preaching can carry authority, if not those whom the Apostolic See has always received or has not counted among the apocrypha? Our Fathers have always observed what the authority of these men prescribed. Therefore we too, following in their footsteps, decree to observe hat both the Apostle Paul and Pope Innocent have prescribed, inserting it into our canons: namely, that no one may dare to take away, seize, or marry either a virgin consecrated to God, or a widow, or a young girl who has changed her clothing in honor of Christ.

Article XVIII: A sentence passed by him may be retracted by no one. He alone may retract it.

Pope Saint Leo the Great’s annulment of Canon XXVIII at Chalcedon:

As for the resolution of the bishops which is contrary to the Nicene decree, in union with your faithful piety, I declare it to be invalid and annul it by the authority of the holy apostle Peter

The Bishops at Chalcedon:

After the reading of the foregoing epistle [The Tome of Leo], the most reverend bishops cried out: ‘This is the faith of the fathers! This is the faith of the apostles! So we all believe! Thus the orthodox believe! Anathema to him who does not thus believe! Peter has spoken thus through Leo! . . . This is the true faith! Those of us who are orthodox thus believe! This is the faith of the Fathers!

Article XIX: He himself may be judged by no one.

Pope Saint Nicholas I writing to the Emperor Michael III:

Furthermore, if you do not listen to us [Rome], it remains that you be held by us as our Lord Jesus Christ enjoins us to hold those who refuse to hear the Church of God; especially since the privileges of the Roman Church confirmed in St. Peter by the words of Christ, ordained in the Church itself, observed from of old, proclaimed by the holy universal synods and ever venerated by the whole Church, can by no means be diminished, infringed, or altered, since no effort of man has power to remove a foundation which God has laid, and what God has established stands firm and unshakable…These privileges, then, were bestowed on this holy Church by Christ: they were not bestowed by the Synod but were merely proclaimed and held in veneration by them...it is immediately clear that the judgments of the Apostolic See, than which there is no greater authority, cannot be handled by any other tribunal, nor is it permissible for any to sit in judgement upon its decision…

And Pope Saint Gelasius from the Patralogia Latina:

and thus he [the Pope] judges the whole Church and himself stands before no tribunal and no judgment can be passed on his judgment, nor can his decision be abrogated

Article XX: No one shall dare to condemn any person who appeals to the Apostolic Chair.

This follows logically from even the appellate jurisdiction granted to Rome by eastern orthodox historians and apologists. Famous examples of this are Ss Athanasius and Peter of Alexandria, Saint Jerome, Saint Maximus the Confessor, and many others.

Article XXI: The more important cases of every church should be referred to the Apostolic See.

Ibid.

Article XXII: The Roman Church has never erred. Nor will it err, to all eternity - Scripture being witness.

We see this attested to no less than 3 times in the same letter of Pope Saint Agatho to the Third Council of Constantinople:

For this is the rule of the true faith, which this spiritual mother of your most tranquil empire, the Apostolic Church of Christ, has both in prosperity and in adversity always held and defended with energy; which, it will be proved, by the grace of Almighty God, has never erred from the path of the apostolic tradition, nor has she been depraved by yielding to heretical innovations, but from the beginning she has received the Christian faith from her founders, the princes of the Apostles of Christ, and remains undefiled unto the end, according to the divine promise of the Lord and Saviour himself, which he uttered in the holy Gospels to the prince of his disciples: saying, Peter, Peter, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you, that (your) faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brethren. Let your tranquil Clemency therefore consider, since it is the Lord and Saviour of all, whose faith it is, that promised that Peter's faith should not fail and exhorted him to strengthen his brethren, how it is known to all that the Apostolic pontiffs, the predecessors of my littleness, have always confidently done this very thing: of whom also our littleness, since I have received this ministry by divine designation, wishes to be the follower, although unequal to them and the least of all.

…because the true confession thereof for which Peter was pronounced blessed by the Lord of all things, was revealed by the Father of heaven, for he received from the Redeemer of all himself, by three commendations, the duty of feeding the spiritual sheep of the Church; under whose protecting shield, this Apostolic Church of his has never turned away from the path of truth in any direction of error, whose authority, as that of the Prince of all the Apostles, the whole Catholic Church, and the Ecumenical Synods have faithfully embraced, and followed in all things; and all the venerable Fathers have embraced its Apostolic doctrine, through which they as the most approved luminaries of the Church of Christ have shone; and the holy orthodox doctors have venerated and followed it, while the heretics have pursued it with false criminations and with derogatory hatred.

Therefore the Holy Church of God, the mother of your most Christian power, should be delivered and liberated with all your might (through the help of God) from the errors of such teachers, and the evangelical and apostolic uprightness of the orthodox faith, which has been established upon the firm rock of this Church of blessed Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, which by his grace and guardianship remains free from all error, [that faith I say] the whole number of rulers and priests, of the clergy and of the people, unanimously should confess and preach with us as the true declaration of the Apostolic tradition, in order to please God and to save their own souls.

Article XXIII: The Roman Pontiff, if he has been canonically ordained, is undoubtedly made a saint by the merits of St. Peter, St. Ennodius Bishop of Pavia bearing witness, and many holy fathers agreeing with him. As it is contained in the decrees of Pope St. Symmachus.

This is the only article I think is actually incorrect, unless we add in the caveat of “without any impediments of mortal sin” as I have seen some do but I believe that goes against the spirit of the article. I believe this is based on the Symmachean forgeries and I have no document saying as much from Saint Ennodius.

Article XXIV: By his command and consent, it may be lawful for subordinates to bring accusations.

This is just true.

Article XXV: He may depose and reinstate bishops without assembling a Synod.

Refer back to Article III.

Article XXVI: He who is not at peace with the Roman Church shall not be considered 'catholic'.

This is most notably seen in the writings of Saint Optatus against the Donatists:

So we have proved that the Catholic Church is the Church spread throughout the world. We must now mention its adornments…

and further:

...and see where are its five endowments, among which the cathedra is the first, and since the second endowment, which is the angelus, cannot be added unless a Bishop has sat on the cathedra, we must see who was the first to sit on the cathedra, and where he sat. If you don't know this, learn. If you do know, blush. Ignorance cannot be attributed to you — it follows that you know. For one who knows, to err is sin. Those who do not know may sometimes be pardoned. You cannot deny that you do know that upon Peter, first, in the city of Rome, was bestowed the episcopal cathedra, on which Peter sat, the Head of all the Apostles, that, in this one cathedra unity should be preserved by all, lest the other Apostles might claim - each for himself- separate cathedras, so that he who should set up a second cathedra against the unique cathedra would already be a schismatic and a sinner. Well then, on the one cathedra, which is the first of the endowments, Peter was the first to sit"

Article XXVII: He may absolve subjects from their fealty to wicked men.

It was difficult to find a direct example of this because in an any instance where this would be applicable, the Bishop of Rome would excommunicate or depose the authority figures in question; whether that be bishops, patriarchs, or sexular rulers as laid out in previous articles. The case of Saint Jerome taking refuge under Pope Saint Damasus is the closest direct example I could find with my cursory research. Another may be the letters to the Lotharingian nobles. In any case, I will leave this excerpt from Sozomen’s Ecclesiastical History:

...the Bishop of Rome, having investigated into the accusations of each [Athanasius, Paul of Cple, Marcellus of Ancyra, & Asclepas of Gaza), found them all agreeing with the Nicene synod, admitted them to communion, as agreeing with him. And insofar as the care of the universal church belonged to Pope Julius on account of the rank of his see, he restored each to his respective Church

Closing thoughts:

This is not meant to be a perfectly exhaustive list, it was merely my attempt at providing an individual example for each of the claims made. The length of the list and my own limitations prevent me from doing a more thorough treatment. Perhaps I will attempt something more comprehensive later on. Thank you for reading.

[taniagomezsoprano]

Sofia 🇧🇬

Serdica ruins and Banya Bashi Mosque

03/25

[yes-k]

Triaditsa

In the exhibition at Credo Bonum Gallery, Kaloyan Ivanov presents 30 works that reveal the artist's perception of the world through the power and beauty in the contrast of two colors - black and white. The artist's paintings from the "Triaditsa" series define the correlation and juxtaposition of an infinite synthesized direction that explores the boundaries and rethinks the role and meaning of the signifying function. Kaloyan Ivanov explores symbols and develops an original interpretative vision that leads us to many divergent etymological meanings. Triaditsa is one of the names of the city of Sofia, which existed in parallel with Ulpia Serdica. The name existed in the Middle Ages and is recorded in the written sources of many Greek writers and historians. It is no coincidence that the author dwells on it, inspired by the idea of developing and bringing to abstract coded forms his visual interpretation, making full use of the expressive means of painting. Kaloyan Ivanov has chosen a format that is akin to the Orthodox iconostasis, the icon and the arch, as symbols of the transition between the old and the new. The artist turns to his inner world, to the past and the present, choosing a continuously evolving line that creates a coherent and boundless system of structural images. The construction of each work is an expression of a rethought and emotionally expressed imagery that largely frees it from its stated concreteness. At the same time, the black-and-white vision highlights the silhouette and the signifying essence of the line without entering the field of the narrative. Its representational power carries a deep conceptual meaning and convinces us of the power of the sensory experience. With its definiteness, the line is reduced to an abstract fragment, or rather a spiral, which is saturated by multiple meaningful transitions to lead us to an undeniable synthesis of signification. Diana Draganova - Stier

[ego-856]

Places to Visit in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, situated in Southeast Europe, is a country rich in natural beauty, historical sites, and cultural heritage. From stunning landscapes to ancient ruins, Bulgaria offers a diverse range of attractions for travelers to explore. Here are some must-visit places in Bulgaria:

Sofia: The capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia, is a vibrant metropolis blending history and modernity. Visitors can explore iconic landmarks such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National History Museum, and the ancient Serdica archaeological complex.

Plovdiv: As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, Plovdiv boasts a wealth of historical and architectural treasures. Highlights include the well-preserved Roman amphitheater, the Old Town with its colorful houses, and the Ethnographic Museum showcasing Bulgarian culture.

Veliko Tarnovo: Known as the "City of the Tsars," Veliko Tarnovo is famous for its medieval fortress, Tsarevets, perched on a hill overlooking the Yantra River. Visitors can explore the historic Old Town, visit the Patriarchal Cathedral, and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Rila Monastery: Nestled in the scenic Rila Mountains, Rila Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Bulgaria's most significant religious landmarks. The monastery complex features exquisite frescoes, a museum, and a peaceful atmosphere ideal for reflection.

Nesebar: Located on the Black Sea coast, Nesebar is an ancient town known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and UNESCO-listed Old Town. Visitors can wander through narrow cobblestone streets, admire Byzantine churches, and relax on sandy beaches.

Buzludzha Monument: This imposing Soviet-era monument, perched atop the Buzludzha Peak in the Balkan Mountains, is a testament to Bulgaria's communist past. While the interior is now abandoned and in disrepair, the monument remains a striking symbol of Bulgaria's history.

Rila Mountains: Outdoor enthusiasts will delight in exploring the rugged beauty of the Rila Mountains. The area offers excellent hiking opportunities, with trails leading to pristine lakes, waterfalls, and panoramic viewpoints.

These are just a few of the many incredible destinations Bulgaria has to offer. Whether you're interested in history, nature, or culture, Bulgaria has something to captivate every traveler.

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

ATTILA

ATTILA Attila the Hun

Ruler of the Huns

c.406-c.453

            Attila was described as having ‘tanned skin’ and a long skull; this was because of the Hun tradition of binding babies heads. Little is known of his childhood, Attila and his older brother Bleda succeeded to the throne in 435 after the death of their uncle Ruga who had a treaty with Rome. The brothers ruled together until Attila assassinated Bleda in 445, so he could rule alone.             Attila was the Roman’s worst nightmare and was feared throughout the Western and Eastern Europe. In 441, he led an invasion of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire; his success pursued him to invade the West. The Huns pillaged churches and monasteries, and killed monks and virgins. They killed soldiers, negotiated treaties and collected gold.

            They went to destroy Naissus (in Serbia) and Serdica (in Bulgaria), the attack on Naissus remained, when Roman ambassadors passed through to meet with Attila 8 years later, the stench of death was so bad that no one could enter the city. The river banks were covered with human bones.

            In 449, Attila turned his attention to the Roman Western Empire. He attempted to conquer Roman Gaul (modern France) and lost the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains which was his only defeat. He invaded Italy but was unable to take on Rome, at the time there was disease and famine and returned North (Northern Europe). He planned a new campaign but died before he accomplished it.

            In 453 CE, Attila married his second wife, Ildico, and after much celebration and drinking the wedded couple headed to his tent. The next morning he was found dead, drowned in his own blood from a nose bleed. Some believed it was Ildico who killed him; however, they found no injury laid upon him. Modern historians believe he may have died of alcohol poisoning or esophageal haemorrhage.

            The Huns mourned by cutting off their hair and slashing their bodies with knives, so that ‘the greatest of warriors should be mourned with the blood of men.’ His adviser, Ardaric of the Gepids, led a Germanic revolt against Hunnic rule, and the Hunnic Empire collapsed.

#attila #attilathehun

[eastrail]

Tag 16: The Red Flat

Datum: 03. Mai 2025

Temperatur: 26°C

Gesundheitlich leider noch immer etwas angeschlagen, starte ich den heutigen Tag so, wie ich den gestrigen beendet habe: entspannt.

Doch zuerst der traditionelle Kurzausflug auf den Balkon: Wie warm ist es heute, wie ist das Wetter? Dabei ist Vorsicht geboten, denn bei mehr als drei Personen herrscht Einsturzgefahr. Super.

Einige Gassen weiter - ohne Google Maps nur schwer zu finden - befindet sich “Izzy’s Coffee & Brunch”.

Und während ich in Ruhe mein Porridge verspeise, kommt plötzlich Bing um die Ecke. Hey, Bing! Hier drüben! Klein ist die Welt. Bing war gestern Abend in meinem Zimmer eingecheckt, der Vibe war sofort da. Offenbar hatte er dieselbe Idee, so frühstücken wir nun gemeinsam. 

Der gebürtige Chinese ist im Alter von sechs Jahren mit seinen Eltern in die USA ausgewandert, wo er heute als Bänker arbeitet. Bing ist bescheiden, hat einen gesunden Lebensstil und spricht tolles Englisch. Also das krasse Gegenteil eines typischen Amerikaners! Und ja, das meine ich genau so. Auf meine Empfehlung besucht Bing gleich die Free Walking Tour. Und ich nutze die Zeit, um vor einem der schönen Street Art Graffitis noch etwas an meinem Blog zu arbeiten.

Woran glauben eigentlich die Bulgaren? Mit dieser Frage setze ich mich gerade auseinander. Tatsächlich ist nur 1 % der Bevölkerung katholisch. Und der Rest? Rund zwei Drittel sind orthodox und immerhin 11 % muslimisch. Entsprechend gibt es in Sofia auch Moscheen, und eine davon möchte ich mir nun ansehen.

Während das Stadtzentrum ziemlich geradlinig aufgebaut ist, tanzt dieser Bau auffällig aus der Reihe. Denn die vor mir liegende Banja-Baschi-Moschee ist nach Mekka ausgerichtet! Oh, Baschi, danke für den Ohrwurm.

Um hinein zu kommen, heisst es dann: Schuhe aus! Für mich eine dankbare Aufgabe, ich stecke eh zu oft in den Dingern. Das zweite Geschoss ist den Frauen vorbehalten, doch auch im Parterre erhält Cameron einen super Blick auf die kontrastreich bemalte Kuppel. 

Direkt vor der Moschee befinden sich kostenlos zugängliche Grundmauern der überbauten Römerstadt Serdica.

Besonders cool: Mit einer kostenlosen App erhält man die Möglichkeit, die alten Gebäude in ursprünglicher Grösse zu erleben. Naja, zumindest digital. Und so laufe ich nun durch die Ruinen, während ich mir beidhändig mein Handy vor Augen halte. Sieht vermutlich komplett bescheuert aus, doch das lohnt sich:

Ganz ohne digitale Hilfe darf ich im Anschluss das älteste Bauwerk Sofias bestaunen: Die Rotunde des heiligen Georg! Der Kuppelbau stammt aus dem vierten Jahrhundert, einfach unfassbar.

Zwar sind Fotos auch hier strengstens verboten, doch mir ist das Wurst. Kulturgut gehört uns allen, und diese tollen Fresken darf ruhig jeder sehen:

Nein, ernsthaft. Das ist so unglaublich, was da alles noch vorhanden ist. So gut erhalten übrigens deshalb, weil man während der osmanischen Zeit alles mit Kalk übermalt und damit “aus Versehen” konserviert hatte. Tha!

Wenn man sich die Decke etwas genauer ansieht, fallen einem die vielen Schichten auf, die unterdessen freigelegt wurden. Wie eine Zwiebel! Sie sind Zeitzeuge von über 1’400 Jahren Baugeschichte! So wurde der Bau im Laufe der Zeit immer wieder umgenutzt: Gebaut als römischer Tempel, später als christliche Kirche und im Mittelalter dann als königliche Kapelle genutzt. Zwischendurch war die Rotonde sogar eine Moschee, heute ist es aber eine orthodoxe Kirche. Was kommt als nächstes, ein McDonalds? Ich hoffe nicht.

Langsam aber sicher finde ich Gefallen an dieser Stadt. Was mich anfangs noch gestört hat, dünkt mich plötzlich faszinierend: Den extremen Kontrast verschiedener Baustile und Zeitalter! Ein krasses Beispiel ist der St. Petka Tempel, der heute von viel befahrenen Strassen und wuchtigen Zeitzeugen des Kommunismus umgeben ist.

Jetzt aber genug Sightseeing, ich brauch dringend was zu futtern!

Fortsetzung ⬇️

[electronicnerdstarfish]

Entrepreneurial Advertising: The Future Of Marketing

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast.

Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture.

We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi, local jam and peppermint tea.

Adderall and flirting with bulimia in an attempt to whittle herself

We wandered the site with other tourists

Yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery.

City Guide for Vienna

Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed.

Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex.

We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed.

I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city – despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes.

Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.

[techman22385]

Silicon Valley Guru Affected by the Fulminant Slashed

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast.

Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture.

We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi, local jam and peppermint tea.

Adderall and flirting with bulimia in an attempt to whittle herself

We wandered the site with other tourists

Yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery.

City Guide for Vienna

Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed.

Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex.

We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed.

I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city – despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes.

Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.

[techman-usa]

Eminem – Stronger Than I Was

January 26, 2025

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast.

Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture.

We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi, local jam and peppermint tea.

Adderall and flirting with bulimia in an attempt to whittle herself

We wandered the site with other tourists

Yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery.

City Guide for Vienna

Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed.

Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex.

We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed.

I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city – despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes.

Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.

https://techman-usa.com/

[everyday1photo]

Sofia

[techmanusa1]

The Weirdest Places Ashes Have Been Scattered in South America

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast.

Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture.

We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi, local jam and peppermint tea.

Adderall and flirting with bulimia in an attempt to whittle herself

We wandered the site with other tourists

Yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery.

City Guide for Vienna

Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed.

Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex.

We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed.

I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city – despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes.

Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.

[lighthousenewsnetwork]

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast. Refreshingly, what was expected of her was the same thing that was expected of Lara Stone: to take a beautiful picture. We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi, local jam and peppermint tea. Adderall and flirting with bulimia in an attempt to whittle herself We wandered the site with other tourists Yet strangely the place did not seem crowded. I’m not sure if it was the sheer size of the place, or whether the masses congregated in one area and didn’t venture far from the main church, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by tourists in the monastery. City Guide for Vienna Headed over Lions Bridge and made our way to the Sofia Synagogue, then sheltered in the Central Market Hall until the recurrent (but short-lived) mid-afternoon rain passed. Feeling refreshed after an espresso, we walked a short distance to the small but welcoming Banya Bashi Mosque, then descended into the ancient Serdica complex. We were exhausted after a long day of travel, so we headed back to the hotel and crashed. I had low expectations about Sofia as a city, but after the walking tour I absolutely loved the place. This was an easy city to navigate, and it was a beautiful city – despite its ugly, staunch and stolid communist-built surrounds. Sofia has a very average facade as you enter the city, but once you lose yourself in the old town area, everything changes. Clothes can transform your mood and confidence. Fashion moves so quickly that, unless you have a strong point of view, you can lose integrity. I like to be real. I don’t like things to be staged or fussy. I think I’d go mad if I didn’t have a place to escape to. You have to stay true to your heritage, that’s what your brand is about.

[citynewsglobe]

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