Университет по библиотекознание и информационни технологии, Български форум за междурелигиозен диалог и сътрудничество/
University of Library Studies and IT (ULSIT), Bulgarian Forum for Inter-religious Dialogue and Partnership
ІХ. НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ „ХАРМОНИЯ В РАЗЛИЧИЯТА”/ 9th HARMONY IN DIVERSITY CONFERENCE,
10 декември – Международен ден за правата на човека / 10th December – the International Human Rights Day
ABSTRACTS
ALEKSANDЕR CRUSTEV (a_crustev@abv.bg):
STUDY OF QUALIFICATION AND MOTIVATION OF FUTURE TEACHERS FOR WORK IN AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Nowdays all European countries have committed to working towards the development of more inclusive education systems. The Bulgarian education system also make stеps towards transformation of the native educational institutions into inclusive ones. A particularly important part of this process is the teaching of inclusive education in universities. To study the impact on the formation of attitudes towards inclusion among prospective teachers, we conducted a study among students. It aims to establish the opinions and attitudes towards inclusive education among students majoring in Pre-school and Primary school pedagogy.
ALEXANDRA KUMANOVA (a.kumanova@unibit.bg),
NIKOLAI VASILEV (n.vasilev@unibit.bg),
PETIA TODOROVA (2740@unibit.bg):
E-LIBRARY PEDAGOGIA.
PEDAGOGICAL WORK WITH DEAF-MUTE CHILDREN: AN INFORMATION RESOURCE OF LIBRARIES IN THE 21st CENTURY
A special bibliographic study orientated to the pedagogical work with deaf-mute children. This research is based on an advisable systematic list of literature published on the subject with emphatically pedagogical intention for the last 50 years (1970-2021), retrieved in the е-space on the е-catalogs of the Bulgarian National Library in Sofia <http://www.nationallibrary.bg/>, National Library Ivan Vazov in Plovdiv www.libplovdiv.com>, Central Library of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia <http://unicat.nalis.bg/?lng=bg>, Sofia City Library in Sofia <https://ilib.libsofia.bg/>, Regional Library Petko R. Slaveykov in Veliko Tarnovo <https://opac.libraryvt.com/>, Regional Library Zahariy Knyazheski in Stara Zagora <https://catalog.libsz.org>, Regional Library Stliyan Chilingirov in Shoumen <https://libshumen.org/>.
It encompasses 112 titles in Bulgarian and Russian orientated to the pedagogical interaction with deaf-mute children: 51 books some of them with е-editions (NN 1-51), 48 studies and articles some of them with е-editions (NN 52-100), 13 е-resources (NN 101-112)
ANGEL VASSILEV (angel.vasilev.lom72@gmail.com):
THE GOSPELS GENEALOGIES OF JESUS CHRIST – UNITY INDIVERSITY
There are some differences in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Matt. 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38) that are the subject of discussion in theological circles. The paper is an attempt to find, analyze and clarify these differences in the texts of the two evangelists in the context of their main theological conceptions in composing the genealogy of Christ.
ANGELINA PETROVA (apetrova@theo.unisofia.bg):
HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURS OF PROFESSOR ARCHPRIEST IVAN GOSHEV AS A WAY TO PRESERVE AND POPULARIZE CHURCH ANTIQUITIES
As director of the Church Historical and Archaeological Museum at the Holy Synod of the BOC Prof. Archpriest Ivan Goshev had been travelling around the country to study church antiquities. He managed to document and to preserve from destruction many of the immovable Christian monuments, such as monasteries and temples, to transfer and preserve in the museum valuable artifacts and documents from Bulgarian history. During these expeditions he kept diaries,
with the intention of publishing the collected materials, which he did in part. The paper examines archival documents related to the notes of Father Goshev during his scientific tours.
ANGUELINA PENEVA (lina.p@abv.bg):
ABOUT PROFESSOR RUSKA GANDEVA AND FOR HORACE
The presence of Horace as an accent to my memory, of one of the most educated woman with whom I have had the pleasure of communicating over the years, is not an end in itself. It arose spontaneously and stuck in my mind. It was provoked by the overlapping impressions of the culture of behaviour and the level of education of narcissistic young people striving for personal expression. From some striking details in the verbally confused statements on basic government issues, both by former and current politicians. Particularly by the actions of one visibly well-organized populist party and its clones in our country – people with noticeably narrow boundary of knowledge and reasoning. Following the footsteps of my memory of Prof. Ruska Gandeva from the time of “thirst for knowledges” and the skill “dialog with the opponent”, the plot begins to become entangled a la recherché du temp perdu with some
reflections on the topic that has not lost it relevance education.
Archpriest Ivan Ivanov (Kyumurdzhiyski) (studio.liturgico3@gmail.com, ivan.ivanov@theo.unisofia.bg):
UТ UNUM SINT: INTERCONFESSIONAL DIMENSIONS OF THE LITURGICAL, SPIRITUAL AND MYSTICAL LIFE OF CHRISTIANS
The rediscovery of the truth about the Holy Eucharist requires both the knowledge of the confessional characteristics of others and the perception, teaching and interpretation of the Eucharist at a new level, with a new methodology,
terminology and language, without destroying and modeling the Gospel truths, the Church's teaching, the creations of the fathers and the testimonies of the sources, and their easier and more accessible presentation to the ordinary believing Christian. Regardless of the accumulated confessional differences and the damage caused to the worship of the Church in the period of the late Middle Ages, this process requires knowing and propagandizing the truth about the Eucharist, as the “heart of the Church”, without which this sacramental organism cannot exist. Following the life and work of Jesus Christ is following His prayer for unity in His Eucharistic and sacramental Body – the Eucharist – “Ut unum sint”, is the basis of everything in Christianity. The history of the Church in the East shows that church unity both in ancient times and today is expressed in unity in faith - unity in the one Body of Christ and unity in the Eucharist. This defines unity in faith, which is unity in the Eucharist. "It has the same Eucharistic character and is identical with the unity in the Eucharist. This self-awareness of the ancient Church was expressed by St. Irenaeus in the words: “Our faith agrees with the Eucharist and the Eucharist confirms our faith” (St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Contra haereses, IV, 18, 5).
ARIF ABDULLAH (arif.abdullah@islamicinstitutebg.org):
A MODEL OF INTERRELIGIOUS COMMUNICATION: QURANIC OBJECTIVES IN MULTICULTURAL ASPECT
The model of interreligious communication is built on four universal goals: getting to know each other; mercy; cooperation in righteousness and mutual protection. The pluralistic model helps to avoid religious self-centeredness and prejudices, which until recently have always been an obstacle to harmonious relations among different cultures.
EUGENIA TOPOLSKA (etopolska@nbu.bg):
LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY IN THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM
Inclusive education implies providing quality education for every child and student. Contemporary policies in this area see differences as a resource that helps us build a tolerant society. What are the specifics of linguistic diversity in the classroom? How do they affect teaching? What are the specifics between linguistic diversity in classrooms in our country and in Europe? This paper answers these questions by briefly analyzing policies and good practices related to linguistic diversity in the inclusive classroom.
EVA KOVACHEVA (e_kovacheva@uniplovdiv.bg):
ТHE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWER OF BABYLON AND THE DESCENT OF HOLY SPIRIT OVER THE BELIEVERS OF PENTECOST AS OPPOSITE IMAGES, PICTURES AND SYMBOLS FOR THE DISSOLUTION AND UNIFICATION OF THE HUMANITY
In the paper the texts from the Scripture are considered in a comparative analysis of the Old and New Testaments for the establishment of the Tower of Babylon and the descent of the Holy Spirit over the believers at Pentecost – the first set forth in Genesis (Gen. 11: 3-9) and the second in the book of Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2: 1-20), which links the thesis that they represent two events of the opposite nature - the first depicts the desire of mankind to ascend to the God in an external way in order to achieve glory, and the second - the descent of God to humanity in an internal way - through faith and humility. Consequences of the first are the separation, alienation and misunderstanding of people between them, for which different languages are both a symbol, and the second – the unification, approaching and unanimity in Holy Spirit.
GEORGETA NAZARSKA (nazarska@abv.bg):
CHURCH MUSIC IN ATHEISTIC BULGARIA (1960s1980s):
TRADITION, SECULARIZATION AND DESACRALIZATION
The paper examines the process of secularization and desacralization of church music and church choral singing under the pressure of the atheistic policy of the communist regime in the 1960s-1980s. Through the approach of history and the cultural heritage sciences, the degrees of replacement of the sacred with the secular in musicology and in the activities of individual church choirs are studied. The main hypothesis is that the described processes lead to a gradual erosion’ of this part of the intangible religious cultural heritage.
GEORGI MILKOV (gmilkoff@gmail.com):
IS JUSTICE AVAILABLE FOR THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19?
There is a public discussion in Bulgaria on the implementation of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence (LPDV).To date, no information has been analyzed on the application of the special law by the district courts in Bulgaria under the conditions of restrictions imposed in connection with COVID-19. An NGO has conducted a study on the implementation of the LPDV. Applications under the Access to Public Information Act have been submitted to 27 district courts. There are different practices in legal protection from domestic violence in district courts in the regional cities in Bulgaria. Some courts require an electronic signature when submitting an application for protection by e-mail. Controversially, the duty of the courts for openness, accessibility and transparency in the activity during COVID-19 is applied in practice. It is necessary to promote the possibility to file documents electronically in the courts, which can be a priority of the High Judicial Council.
GOAR KHNKANOSIAN (ggoar@abv.bg):
THE ST.THEOTOKOS ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN SOFIA
The paper presents the tradition of building Armenian Christian temples in the Bulgarian lands from the 16th to the 21st centuries. The history and present of the ‘St. Theotokos’ Church in Sofia is examined in detail.
HRISTO TUTUNAROV (h.tutunarov@unibit.bg):
THE VLACHS RUDARI – AN EXAMPLE OF ETHNO-ENGINEERING
The object of this paper are ethnic groups in Bulgaria and particularly the Romа ethnic group of Vlachs rudari and the process of changing their identity from Bulgarian Roma to Romanian. The aim is to study the processes and mechanisms through which a Roma subgroup is bean Romanianized. The tasks are to examine the ethno genesis of the Vlachs rudari, to trace processes of rapprochement with the Romanian state, as well as the main participants in this process.
IBRAHIM KARAHASAN – ÇINAR
(ibrahim_chynar@abv.bg): CALENDAR HOLIDAYS AND CUSTOMS OF THE QIZILBASHES (ALLIANS) IN THE DELIORMAN (LUDOGORIE) DISTRICT
The Muslim confession in Bulgaria includes 12% from the population, predominantly Bulgarian Turks. Over 90% of them are Muslims Sunnis. The other part are Shiites, approximately 1% from the Bulgarian population. They are
living in the North East Bulgaria, in the historicalgeographical of the Deliorman (Ludogorie) district, and are known as Alians, Alevis or Qizilbashes. In the paper their customs, rites and rituals are presented in detail.
ILIA MECHKOV (amechkov@abv.bg):
THE SOFIA MEMORIAL SYSTEM RELATED TO THE DOMINANT COMMUNIST IDEOLOGY (CHARACTERISTICS AND DEVELOPMENT)
The Sofia memorial system associated with the dominant communist ideology was the most highlighted in the country. It commemorated a huge number of historical
figures, sites and events by evenly extending its network over the built-up urban areas and green areas. This paper highlights some of its features such as pluralism and unobtrusiveness of major mass types of memorial sites and homogenizing a esthetic function in the urban environment. The paper also presents the picture of its near total destruction, which is the country's only ubiquitous act of "decommunization" i.e. "deideologization" of the symbolic
field. The fate of some of the dismantled and surviving monuments, which will continue to participate in the formation of the diverse memorial appearance of Sofia, is presented.
IVO YANEV (yanev@theo.uni-sofia.bg):
HESYCHASM AS A THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE IN PASTORAL
The purpose of this text is to present Hesychasm as the main method of spiritual care and treatment of the soul and mental illnesses in Orthodoxy. According to hesychasm, there are two types of hesychia –
hesychia of the body (external silence) and hesychia of the soul (internal silence). The silence of the body consists of the choice of a secluded place and the desire of the believer
to fence off his senses, and from there the soul from external irritants. Spiritual silence means that the mind acquires the ability not to perceive any external spiritual deception (charm). In this state the mind is seized with
sobriety and affection, and is turned to the heart of the Christian. The mind (energy) gathers in the space of the heart (its essence), unites with it, and thus acquires true knowledge of God. All these aspects of this spiritual model
of healing are used in the monastic life and in the parish care of the Christian in the world.
JACQUELINE BODUROVA (jaklin_bodurova@abv.bg):
THE CULTURAL PALETTE OF THE VARNA ETHNICITIES IN THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY
The paper presents the diverse atmosphere of cohesion and coexistence between Bulgarians and other ethnicities, shared in harmony in the city of Varna, exchanging cultural traditions on holidays and the corresponding cuisine. It studies the lifestyle, customs, culture and crafts characteristic of each ethnic group. It also gives information about the neighborhoods formed around the worship places, the schools, streets and squares, markets and baths.
JORDAN DOYKOV (j.doykov@unibit.bg):
METAPHYSICAL STEREOTYPING OF KNOWLEDGE AND ITS PHENOMENOLOGICAL CORRELATIONS AND SOCIOLOGICAL PROJECTIONS IN THE CONCEPTS OF MAX SCHELER
In this paper, on the basis of the philosophical concept of Max Scheler, the metaphysical stereotyping of knowledge and its phenomenological correlations and sociological projections is substantiated. The presentation of this problematic could give reasons to delve into the cognitive essence of the author's metaphysics and to understand the need for phenomenological knowledge, forming the radical opposition to positivist sociology and resulting orientation of the sociology of knowledge in the search for an answer to the latter in the study of society.
JOVAN JONOVSKI (jonovski@gmail.com):
THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
The Republic of North Macedonia is declared as a multinational and multiconfessional state. The religious communities are separated in three categories: Churches, faith communities and religious groups. A register is held in the Court and the Commission for the relation with the faith communities and religious groups also keeps record of the register. The register currently has 20 churches, 10 faith communities and 13 religious groups. This paper analyses short history of the religious life, legal status of the religious communities through modern history in Macedonia. Also it categorized registered churches, faith communities and religious groups.
KATARZYNA MOSKAŁA (kmo@umk.pl):
VEGETARIANISM – THE BASIS FOR CONSCIOUS INDIVIDUAL LIVING IN THE WORLD
Vegetarianism is a phenomenon that has developed rapidly and rapidly in the last 20 years, especially in highly developed countries, and is no longer associated with an oddity or a short-lived fad. Vegetarianism, understood more broadly than just a way of eating, has become a lifestyle for millions of people around the world. Modern scientific research is discovering that the vegetarian way of eating not only promotes health and improves the human condition, but also proves that eating and obtaining meat has adverse, debilitating and pathogenic effects on the human body.
KOSTADIN NUSHEV (kostadin. nushev@theo.unisofia.bg) THE NATURAL RIGHT TO LIFE AND THE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION – ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN THE LIGHT OF CHRISTIAN MORALITY AND THE SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH
This paper tries to mark some important moral arguments, related to discussions on abortion. The moral theology and Christian ethical ideas about human life as a sacred gift of God (Gen.1:26-28) and the importance of this theological
principle for the formation of some basic positions of Christian ethics on moral issue of abortion are discussed in detail. The second groups of moral arguments, related to the secular and individualistic moral philosophy and
contemporary biomedical ethics, are analysed. The two moral systems with their different values are the basic ground for the arguments of the two different groups of people, which are separate in the two different ideological
movements with their pro-life and pro-choice movements.
LIANA GALABOVA (lianagalabova@abv.bg):
PARADOXES OF THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH COMMUNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION ON A LOCAL ANG GLOBAL SCALE
Contemporary development of church communities in Eastern Orthodox Christianity nowadays is more and more difficultly being realised, managed, analysed, and prognosed. Problems of “this world” or of the global civic
society affect Eastern Orthodox Christian spirituality too directly to the extent of displacement and substituting, yet before it would be possible to say that in Orthodox Church postsocialist world had completely recovered on acceptable
level of fulfilment of religious rights. Therefore this paper explores some specific dimensions of spontaneous confessional reasoning on sacred sociability, affected and to be reconsidered further along global militarisation crisis
following pandemics, and readjusted again to meet high doctrinal and moral criteria of our faith and church.
LUDMILA KIRILOVA (lkirilovabg@gmail.com):
THE SHINTO TRADITION AND THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS NATURE
The Japanese have a very specific attitude towards surrounding reality. And lthough some of their beliefs are also observed in shamanism, animism in Japan is unique in nature. From ancient times the archipelago is believed that every element of nature contains a divine spark, without which nothing can exist and everyone has the opportunity to connect directly to it. Shinto tradition can be seen as a cross between religion, science and the occult. Shamanism, which is practiced today in different parts of the world such as Europe, Australia and others, is based on mastering the trance state of the shaman, while the Shinto tradition maintains the connection between the individual and kamis - deities who can take the form of sea, tree, rain, wind, fertility, etc. According to this belief, people also become kamis after die.
MAGDALENA GARVANOVA
(m.garvanova@unibit.bg): WHAT HAPPENS TO EQUALITY IN EUROPE? (RESULTS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL SURVEY)
This paper presents results from the ninth wave of the European Social Survey (ESS), conducted in 2018. The emphasis is on the equality because this value orientation is the foundation of the democratic neoliberal ideology of modern European societies. Based on a quantitative secondary analysis of empirical data, it is established that Bulgaria holds one of the last places in terms of equality, along with some former socialist countries such as Hungary, Estonia, and Lithuania, that is probably due to the eroded during the so-called democratic transition totalitarian ideologems of equality and social justice. The comparative cross-cultural analysis of the data from the sixth (2012), seventh (2014), eighth (2016), and ninth wave (2018) of the ESS clearly shows a decrease in the intensity of equality by years among European countries. The paper raises some questions about the crisis of European values through the prism of equality as a basic democratic value and ideology.
MARCEL ISRAEL(marcelisrael@telefonica.net):
THE SENSE OF HUMOR OF GREAT MUSICIANS IN THEIR LIFE AND INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE
The great artists in the field of music: composers, performers, and music critics are also sources of valuable wisdom, quotes, and especially many humorous remarks in their creative daily lives and their intercultural and interethnic dialogue. Witty and funny quotes are presented, as well as comic events from the lives of famous musicians related to their relationship with other musicians, publishers, playwrights, critics, or audiences from different cultural, religious, or ethnic communities. Some conclusions are drawn about the role of humor in the development of music in historical and creative aspects.Particular attention is paid to the attitude in the music world towards artists involved in preading and supporting xenophobia and religious intolerance, especially antisemitism as well as humorous quotes from musicians forced to live and work under authoritarian regimes. The main idea of this paper is that the sense of humor of the great musicians in different historical periods is not only a means for overcoming difficulties but also an important element in their work.
MARGARITA BAKRACHEVA (m.bakracheva@abv.bg),
YANKA TOTSEVA (y_totseva@abv.bg):
THE ROMA IN BULGARIA AS A CONSPIRATORIAL NARRATIVE OF A PERCEIVED THREAT
The paper presents the results of an empirical study of adult educators' attitudes towards Roma as a perceived threat. The results are analysed from the perspective of a specifically national conspiracy theory, which is the shared belief that economic motives lie behind the tolerance (which is artificial and unwanted) towards the Roma minority that is traditional in the country. On the basis of the reduced birth rate and high rate of outgoing migrants, Bulgarians also tend to believe that there is a "genocide" against Bulgarians, or in other words that Bulgarians are being deliberately exterminated. This attitude in Bulgaria is different when compared to other European countries where the "fear of the Other" is turned towards immigrants. What in other countries manifests itself as the fear of the Unknown Other (immigrants), in Bulgaria manifests itself in the fear of the Well-Known Other (Roma). A recent GlobSec survey on Central and Eastern Europe also reveals the widespread conspiratorial thinking among Bulgarians.
MARIA DISHKOVA (dishkova.maria@gmail.com):
DETERMINANTS OF HELPING BEHAVIOR
Helping, like any other human behavior, is determined by a number of factors, for example: gender, age, religion, culture, mood, professional development. Often, people don’t even think about providing support in concrete situations. Sometimes they don’t help others at all. In addition, it is important whether they now how to seek and accept help. Shared by many specialists is the opinion that children can be brought up in helping behavior that will give results in significant improvement of interpersonal relations In this paper results, obtained by a study, conducted among 160 pedagogical specialists will be discussed. Their opinion is extremely important. Main purpose is to get their attitude towards helping others, so to be a good example for their students at school.
MARIANA NIAGOLOVA (niagolovamd@bk.ru),
YURII OLEINIK (yurii03@mail.ru):
BULGARIAN AND SOVIET PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF RELIGION IN THE 1960s-1970s
This paper is devoted to the formation of the discipline "psychology of religion" in Bulgaria and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s. This was a time when, in both countries, the church was not only separated from the state, but also the study of religion was carried out primarily from the positions of the atheistic worldview. It was during this period that much attention was paid to the psychology of religion from a historicalpsychological perspective, and to religious psychology from a social-psychological perspective. It was also during this period that the first attempt was made to include the history of religious psychology within a comprehensive history of social psychology. At the same time, in the Soviet Union, intensive work was being done on the psychology of religion, exclusively from a historical-philosophical and historical-psychological perspective. In both countries, much research is being conducted on the mental states associated with a religious outlook: moods, feelings, beliefs.
MIROSLAV BACHEV (miroslavbachev@gmail.com):
RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AS A PROBLEM OF PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Religious pluralism and religious diversity pose fundamental questions that are the subject of philosophy of religion. These questions have been debated from the Enlightenment to the present day, and there is agreement among most authors who develop these problems in their metaphysical dimensions. The problem of religious pluralism in philosophy of religion is not discussed in isolation, but is directly related to the problem of religious unity. Here this topic will be presented through the philosophical approaches of Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Schleiermacher and the contemporary philosopher of religion - John Hick.
MIROSŁAW A. MICHALSKI (mamichalski@wp.pl):
CHURCHES OF OLD CATHOLIC PROVENANCE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE UTRECHT UNION IN MODERN POLAND
The Old Catholic Churches were founded in 1871 and formed the Utrecht Union of Old Catholic Churches. There are several churches of Old Catholic origin in Poland, the most representative of which is the Utrecht Union of Old Catholic Churches, whose bishops are affiliated with the International Conference of Old Catholic Bishops. The Old Catholic Mariavite Church was removed from the Union of Utrecht as a result of the reforms made by Archbishop Kowalski. There are, however, a number of other churches that have self-proclaimed themselves as Fourth Wave Old Catholic Churches - such as the Catholic Reformed Church, which is a member of the Ecumenical Catholic Community. In addition, we can still mention the Polish National Catholic Church in Poland, the Old Catholic Church in Poland, the National Catholic Church, the Catholic National Church, the Old Catholic Church of Jesus the Merciful Messiah and several others, which were formed most often as a result of internal divisions in small communities arising from the personal disputes and personal ambitions of their members.
MUMUN TAHIROV (dr.mumun.tahir@gmail.com):
ON THE QUESTION OF THE SPECIFICITY OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
Tolerance itself is a purely secular concept and to talk about in tolerance of religion is extremely difficult. Religious tolerance is in many respects different from secular tolerance - it cannot include as a mandatory condition the aspiration for rapprochement of religions and recognition of their equal value. The principle of tolerance is based on respect for the views of others and their perception as equals. But this does not apply to religious tolerance, i.e. the recognition and perception of a foreign faith as equal to one's own.
NELI BOJADZHIEVA (nbojadzhieva@unisofia.bg):
DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ CULTURAL SENSITIVITY AND ATTITUDES FOR SOCIAL WORK IN THE HELPING PROFESSIONS
The paper presents the results from empirical study and running longitudinal observing on students cultural sensitivity and attitudes for social work in multicultural environment with people from different groups. There is tracing the progress of the level of cultural sensitivity after training process at university education for helping professions. The respondents are involved in education different forms and levels of education and qualification at the universities in Bulgaria.
NENAD VASIC (nenad.v@diplomacy.bg.ac.rs),
MITKO ARNAUDOV (mitko@diplomacy.bg.ac.rs):
EUROPEAN UNION – WESTERN BALKANS RELATIONS: A TWO-WAY STREET WHERE NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE HEADED
In this paper, we will try to answer questions such as whether the EU is interested in activating its enlargement policy in practice, whether regional integration remains the only option in the Western Balkans and what this means for small states such as those in the Western Balkans in theoretical conception, respectively how this whole process affects the redefining of their foreign policy goals and the creation of foreign policy in general.
NIKOLAY NESHEV (neshev@phys.uni-sofia.bg):
THE PEACE AND TEACHING OF THE BUDDHA
The Buddhist point of view on caused violence and the way to prevent it in the context of psychological dynamics in the concept of peace–conflict is examined. Does the Buddha’s doctrine have any potencial especially today when the
world is embroiled in an absurd war? Are peacemaking efforts in search of a constructive solution possible?
NIKOLINKA KLIMUKOVA (аrt_muza@abv.bg):
THE MIRACLESS OF THE ST.ST. COSMAS AND DAMIAN UNMERCENARY PHYSICIANS TSARNOGORSKI MONASTERY
The paper examines the history and current state of the ‘St.St. Cosmas and Damian Unmercenary Physicians’ Tsarnogorski Monastery in Bulgaria. The focus is on its architectural and artistic cultural heritage and on the pilgrimage directed to its healing holy well and its miraculous icon. Its modern development as an Orthodox religious center is commented on.
POLINA SPIROVA (pspirova@theo.uni-sofia.bg):
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN AN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT
The paper studies the possibilities of hosting online activities in the field of catechesis (religious education) for adults (18+) during both school years during the pandemic (2020/2021 and 2021/2022). The described activities are hosted as a part of a course in catechesis for adults in the "Pokrov Bogorodichen" church in Sofia, which has been adapted to online learning. Both challenges for teaching religious topics in an online environment, the role of an online
community for dealing with critical situations and possible solutions for them are explored.
ROSITSA ANGELOVA (r.angelova@shu.bg):
THE TOWN OF SHOUMEN’S GRADUATES OF THE ST.JULIAN’S COLLEGE AT MALTA
The paper presents the Bulgarian alumni of the St. Julian’s College at Malta, born in the town of Shoumen. It studies the students’ motivation, course of education, living conditions, and networking. Biographies of three students – Vassil Pentchev, Nikola Stoychev and Todor Djebarov, are reconstructed. All the Bulgarians, who studied at the college, had made their successful career and contributed to modernization of Bulgarian state.
SARA ABD EL AZIZ EL ASHRAFY (sara2007_mena@yahoo.co.uk):
RELIGIONS, DIALOGUE AND PEACE BUILDING IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Achieving, building and spreading peace is the primary goal of the monotheistic religions. In order to establish peace at the global level and preserve human life, international and regional organizations were established, foremost of which is the United Nations. Crises and obstacles that threaten global peace and security represent a great challenge facing man, and the roles of international organizations and religious institutions are evident in them with their emergence.
SERGEI METODIEV (dominogym@yahoo.com):
THE CHALLENGES FACING CHRISTIANITY IN THE 21st CENTURY
Christianity has been alive and relevant over the centuries and today. The dialectic of tradition and innovation encompasses both the classical formulations of faith and their overcoming, relativization and re-actualization, but in a new and contemporary context. The scope of this dialectic includes postmodernism, which by its very anti-religious and antimetaphysical nature makes religion, faith and metaphysics more vital, more active and more relevant, just as the
ineradicable needs of the human spirit.
SEVDELINA NIKOLOVA (sevdelinanikol@abv.bg):
FREEDOM AS A CONDITION FOR COMPATIBILITY
The paper attempts to examine the topic of freedom from the standpoints of psychoanalysis and humanistic psychology, mainly through the voices of their emblematic representatives Sigmund Freud and Erich Fromm. Emphasis is placed on their positions on war and how freedom in the absence of conditions for harmonious development offers various escape routes, which hinders the development of the ersonality. The rescue paths proposed by the two theorists are also traced.
SILVA NALBATIAN-HACHERIAN (silva_ha@mc.government.bg):
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY CENTRES (CHITALISHTA) AND LIBRARIES TO DEVELOP ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS
The paper presents opportunities of community cultural centers – chitalishta, and libraries to work in times of crisis and specifically with asylum-seekers from Ukraine. Given are concrete examples of possible and implemented cultural, educational and social activities aimed at asylum-seekers – children, youth and adults. The community cultural centers have democratic structures and their activities are based on the principle of promoting cultural diversity. The development of community cultural centers is supported by the state and municipalities, which provides a direct link for gathering, providing information and taking action also in cases of a rapidly changing environment
SVETLA SHAPKALOVA (s.shapkalova@unibit.bg):
CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL PRACTICES TO OVERCOME NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES TOWARDS THE OTHER
This paper highlights the Christian religion's ability to overcome negative thoughts about different. According to the Saviour's bright moral example, spiritual lessons built on ethical principles are also formed. Love is at the heart of
Christian doctrine. The emphasis is on the good, as the main component of the tolerable and peaceful coexistence in the world.
TATYANA I. ZHARKOVA (taniafrance@mail.ru),
ANNA F. LATYSH: ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DIALOGUE OF CULTURES IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE LESSON IN THE MODERN GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION
The paper deals with the problems of successful implementation of the dialogue of cultures in a foreign language lesson in today's difficult geopolitical conditions, as well as the education of a new person who is able to live, create and create in a polycentric and multidimensional world, moreover, flexibly, tolerantly, qualitatively and highly professionally.
TSVETELIN ANGELOV (florians@dir.bg):
FRANCIS FUKUYAMA’S IDEA OF THE END OF HISTORY AND ITS FOUNDATION ON HEGEL’S PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
According Francis Fukuyama, the end of history is not temporal, but teleological, as the ideal and goal of history. The story is a complex and difficult to understand, but purposeful process. It includes the activities of reasonable subjects seeking mutual recognition. There is no better alternative and better public order than liberal democracy, and therefore it is the highest form of social organization. All this ideologically corresponds to Hegel's understanding of the historical as a self-manifestation of the logical, with which reason manifests itself in the historical process.
VALERIA FOL (v.fol@unibit.com):
WHY ARTEMIDA EULINOS (THE GREAT GEAR)?
The question, the title of this report, occurred to me after reading Marco Merlini's interesting study "The Pagan Artemis in the Virgin Mary Salutation at Great Lavra, Mount Athos" (2011). The richly illustrated text enables even those who are forbidden to visit Agion Oros (Mount Athos) to visually familiarize themselves with the wonderful post-Byzantine frescoes in the Great Lavra. The author analyzes the 16thcentury post-Byzantine depiction of Artemis in the
Annunciation scene in the Great Lavra of the Mount Athos. He dwells at length on the image of the goddess in Greek mythology and rightly asks how one can explain the appearance of this image of a pagan goddess in a sacred
Christian territory in which there is a strict restriction on female images, above the main entrance to the dining room of the most - the oldest and most important monastery. Following the idea of Raphael Lewandowski
(Lewandowski, 2006), the author comes to the conclusion that the painter of the fresco Theophanes from the island of Crete painted an "allegorical figure who alludes to ancient rituals performed by the Fates at childbirth" (Merlini, 2011: 171). And then I asked myself the question: Why did he choose Artemis Eulinos and not one of the more common hypostases of the goddess?
VALIA SIMEONOVA (valiasimeonova_sweet@abv.bg):
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND DIALOGUE BETWEEN MILITARY PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MISSIONS
The paper studies the nature and importance of multicultural communication and knowledge of foreign culture. The dialogue in an intercultural environment presupposes the appropriate attitude for respect and trust in the values of the
servicemen from other countries, but also a guarantee for effective coalition co-operation.
VANYA LOZANOVA (lozanova_vanya@yahoo.com):
MELPOMENE THROUGH TEARS AND LAUGHTER: THE ART THEATER OF KAROLOS KOUN
In 1942, Karolos Kоun (1908-1987) founded the Theater of Arts (Θέατρο Τέχνης) as an alternative to the National Theater of Greece. Along with the works of theatrical modernism, the troupe and their artistic director turn to ancient tragedy and comedy in an unconventional and provocative manner, transforming them into aesthetic and ideological turning points in the reception of Aristophanes on the modern Greek stage. The paper aims to trace and analyze the
processes of generating the alternative to the “tradition” of the National Theater of Greece in the stage approach to the ancient Greek drama and the formation of a specific approach to the understanding of the ancient text and giving
it a new up-to-date sound through the balance between European models of modernity, on the one hand, and elements drawn from Greek folk traditions, on the other. In the focus of attention is the figure of Кarolos Kоun and his
director's approach, defined as the „folk expressionism“, towards the ancient Old Attic tragedy and comedy, not only in the stage space of the modern Greek theater, but also beyond its borders.
VELINA TONEVA (vellina@abv.bg):
PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES IN THE PAROCHIAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH CENTER IN THE MLADOST DISTRICT, SOFIA
This paper discusses pilot research on parochial educational practices in Bulgaria from the perspective of adjustment of research tools and methods to the existing recent variety of parish and monastic communities in actual educational mission of Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate.
VENTSISLAV PETROV (vrpetrov@hotmail.com):
MUSIC EDUCATION AS A SUPPORT OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
One of the most pressing questions of contemporary pedagogy as a science and practice is undoubtedly the question of the best organization of inclusive education. This is a complex and multifaceted process involving family, social, educational, social adjustment, and professional orientation relationships with people with special educational needs, including music education. By now research in music pedagogy is very limited, based on objectively and consistently documented experiences of effectively implementing inclusive approaches, and professional music pedagogy is almost entirely absent in this research. This paper focuses on music as a supportive element of inclusive education.
VENTZESLAV SABEV (ventzeslav_sabev@msn.com):
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AS INSTRUMENT OF INTERCULTURAL MEDIATION AND PEACE-BUILDING
This paper is based on the postulate that tourism has a net positive contribution to post-conflict peace-making. Tourism forges inter-personal ties, cultural exchanges and enables economic well-being for communities previously at
war. Empirical research illustrates that tourism improves social resilience and economic stability, while reducing the probability of a resurgent conflict. Thermal tourism as well as faith tourism are presented as convincing areas for
sustainable development. The notion of inter-cultural mediation and its various techniques is briefly described. The paper exposes different national strategies on four continents: Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda and
Azerbaijan (in the Karabakh region). Recommendations are proposed as a result of this comparative analysis.
VENTZISLAV VELEV (v.velev@unibit.bg):
THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE BULGARIAN COMMUNITY CENTRES (CHITALISHTA)
The transfer of knowledge from one generation to another has always found its different dimensions. Starting from the smallest community unit – the family, it gradually moves into subsequent stages of development. The local community often retains within itself various elements of specific knowledge, which at certain times are transformed through sharing and subsequent familiarization. In many cases, the network of community centers in Bulgaria has its own manifestation as a conductor and catalyst of these processes. This is most often seen in smaller communities and towns. The philosophy of the community center, as a kind of communication center, enables and helps to promote ongoing communication between different groups of people. It supports the processes of knowledge not only to be transferred, but also to be enriched, as well as to acquire new forms of development.
VLADISLAVA SPASOVA ILIEVA (vspasovailieva@gmail.com,semiramissia@yahoo.com):
THE BULGARIANS IN SPAIN AND THE FORGOTTEN RELIGIOSITY, WHICH CURES NOSTALGIA
The research is based on personal observations during my stay in Spain between 2002 to 2010, and surveys and interviews conducted among Bulgarians living in Madrid (2005) and visiting the Greek Orthodox Church there, for the purposes of one of my coursework during of my doctoral studies at Complutense University, investigating the role of religiosity in the integration of immigrants in Spain. The question that is being followed is what happens to the religiosity of the Bulgarians who found themselves in a foreign country, very soon after the fall of the Iron Curtain, whether they were believers, non-believers, agnostics or atheists, how the worldview, the values abroad change , and what saves some of them from the painful nostalgia.
VOLODYA ZLATEV (volodya_zlatev@abv.bg):
WORKING NORMATIVE STRUCTURE AND MEHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The paper presents in details the normative structure and all the activities of the UN, concerning the protection of human rights. Special attention is paid to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), whose main task is to monitor to responsibilities of each UN member-state. Interest deserves so-called “Special procedures” and their independent studies which are periodically reported to Council sessions.
YORDANKA ZAHARIEVA (y.zaharieva@unibit.bg),
RAFIE DEMIROVA (rademi@abv.bg):
ANOTHER HYPOTHESIS ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE WORD ABRACADABRA: AN APPEAL TO WATER, AIR OR THE UNIVERSЕ
The hypothesis put forward about the meaning of the word ‘abracadabra’, based on linguistic traces, connects the word with the concept of water and its symbolism. It is assumed to be a magical formula from the distant past, with which
the world and the not-world, the known and the un- the known world. The universe is invoked. As far as is known, no such connection has been made so far.
YOSIF NUNEV (inunev@abv.bg):
THE IGNORANT ATTITUDE TOWARD THE ROMA CULTURE AND ITS CARRIERS – THE BASIS OF THE DIVISION BETWEEN BULGARIANS AND ROMA
This paper aims to present and analyze one of the most significant dividing lines between the Roma and the majority - the continuing negative attitude of the modern mass Bulgarian to the Roma cultural tradition. Other important dividing lines are described. The etymology of this problem has been traced historically. The analyzed results of this underestimation and the ways to overcome the accumulated stereotypes towards the Roma and the culture are presented.
YULIY YORDANOV (vreme@mail.bg):
ON THE CROSSROAD BETWEEN GOLGOTHA AND SALVATION: LOM – AN OASIS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BULGARIANS AND JEWS
The paper deals with interethnic relations between Bulgarians and Jews in town of Lom, as an example of friendship between the two ethnic groups. Based on eyewitness memories, the author makes a value analysis of the behavior and help of the population of Lom for the realization of the human right to freedom.
ZDRAVKO KANEV (zkunev@theo.uni-sofia.bg):
INSTITUTIONAL STABILITY – THE BASIS OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
In the paper examines the problem of the institutional stability of the Muslim religion as the basis of peaceful coexistence in Bulgaria. Achieving institutional independence for the Bulgarian Muslims is important, and the issue of the autonomy of the Muslim faith is a key to uniting the community (umma) as well as preventing outside interference.