READING ROOM: From Krali Marko to piano-playing mutri

A look at Bulgarian humour through the centuries

A nation's humour can be hard for an outsider to understand. Several countries have earned a certain reputation because of the things they like to joke about. People often talk about British humour or about German humour, but never about Bulgarian humour. There is a reason for this, and it is not because there is something wrong with the way Bulgarians like to joke, but because of all the reasons that have led to the formation of this humour.

The Sofia Echo on Bulgarian football and foul play

The arrest of Ivan Lekov, deputy head of Bulgaria's State Agency for Sport and Youth, at the instance of the State Agency for National Security has deepened the controversy surrounding the country's football industry. In its issue published on September 26, The Sofia Echo leads on the implications of the story and takes an editorial position. At the same time, sparks are flying over the saga of Bulgargaz and massive unpaid bills, with serious implications for consumers. The newspaper examines the story so far.

READING ROOM: A history of protestantism in Bulgaria

In 1810, the American board of commissioners for foreign missions was created, representing the interests of American members of the Congregationalist and Presbyterian denominations of the era. Nine years later, in 1819, the board sent two of its missionaries to the Near East, where they found within the limits of the Ottoman Empire a multitudinous nation - the Bulgarians.

READING ROOM: Serving in Bulgaria

At present, a number of Protestant foreigners live and work in Bulgaria. Bob Faber, Kevin Beery, Tanja and Steve Pankratz, and Christina Stoimenova agreed to talk with The Sofia Echo on their lives here.

When we talk about missionary work, it's very important to know what it is exactly. Though in fact, when talking about Bulgaria, I'm not talking about missionary work, because Bulgaria has been a Christian nation for almost 2000 years. In archaeological museums there are items that show that people were Christians here in the third century CE. That is why I'm not going to say that Christianity is something new here.