Saint Trivelius Institute
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Saint Trivelius Institute On August 30th 2012, the Bulgarian government approved our new registration and Saint Trivelius Institute became the standard bearer of a long tradition of theologi- cal education in Bulgaria. We trace our roots all the way back to the Protestant Institutions of the 19th century, and are the direct successor to the United Theological Faculty and the Bulgarian Bibli- cal Academy "Logos." Our newly minted partnership agreement with New Bulgarian University assures the opportunity for our students to earn accredited degrees. For the first time in history our graduates can acquire specializations beyond Theology, in areas such as Social Work, Public Administration, Chaplaincy, Non-Profit Manage- ment and Education, thus obtaining more and better prospects for meaningful employ- ment and practical Christian service. Our goal is for our graduates to receive a legitimate degree, as well as education and specializations that ena- ble them to find fulfillment both within both their own church context and also the wider society as a whole. Our choice of names sends a particular message, a call for sincere and humble service, and commitment to the great family of the Christian Faith, which transcends human self-identification, divisions, labels, traditions and confessions, and stands before all as a witness of God's faithfulness to a world in need of the Savior. Stoyan Lalev President A Word About the Name, Saint Trivelius Our school takes its name from the second leader of the first Bulgarian State. Khan Ter- vel was a Christian and a hero in the church of the middle ages. He is also known under the monastic name Saint Trivelius Theoktist. In 705 AD at Constantinople Khan Tervel was proclaimed Caesar of the Eastern Roman Empire, thus giving him the second highest rank in the land. This title was reserved for Christian emperors only, and he was the only foreigner to be so honored. In 718 AD Khan Tervel led the Bulgarian army into battle against the Arabs at Constan- tinople. His victory arrested the Muslim advance in the east, saving both the Byzantine Empire and all of Europe from invasion. It would be almost 700 years before an- other Arab force would fight its way onto the Balkan Peninsula. Both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches remember him with the moniker Savior of Europe. Despite possessing glory, honor, power and influence -- all things that people in our contemporary world so desperately crave, Khan Tervel retired to a monastery near the city of Ohrid (in present day Macedonia). He chose to live out his days in humble Christian service, rather than to bask in the vain glory of selfish ambition. This is a marvelous and vivid example of the humility of heart and strength of character which we hope to see reflected in our own lives and in the lives of other Christians. Finally, it is good to remember that when Khan Tervels reigned, the Church was still one. The arguments which would ultimately drive East and West apart still lay 300 years in the future. So the contribution of Khan Tervel (St. Trivelius Theoktist) belongs to all Christians and to the whole Church, everywhere, a Godly example for the ages. Evgeniy Naydenov Rector 20th Anniversary Celebration Theological Education in Bulgaria At the end of 2012 St. Trivelius Institute celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Contemporary Theological Education in Bulgaria. More than 100 graduates and professors attended the celebration. We were honored to have Michael Johnson, our first Dean, as guest speaker for the event. Over the years the name of the Institute has changed from Biblical Academy "Logos" to United Theological Faculty and finally to St. Trivelius Insti- tute. But the goal remains the same, training kingdom workers for Bulgaria, the Balkans, and beyond. Over 120 people graduated from the full-time program in the last 20 years, and over 500 from the part-time programs. For a small country like Bulgaria, with only 7.5 million peo- "Five different denominations were present in our class. We ple, God has blessed the church with many workers willing learnt to respect each other and to work together. Now we to invest their time and energy in pursuit of theological edu- have several joint projects with different churches." cation. Aseneta Georgieva '12 (Varna) We thank God that over the years the school has remained "To test everything according to the Bible and to not accept non-denominational, where students from different churches blindly what others tell me is true." and denominations study together and workg for the unity Dimitar Kurlev '96 (Bansko) of the church. "These years had great influence in my life, I grew as a per- Here are some answers to the question: son, as a Christian." Lev Ognianov '96 (Sofia) "Looking back, what stands out as an important lesson from your student years?" "Our teachers were great models of leadership - they opened their hearts to us." "I got to know and developed friendships with other Evan- Stefan Zarev '97 (Velingrad) gelicals. Before I did not even know that Baptists or Con- gregationalists exist." "I learned how to learn. Learning became an important part Ventsislav Stoykov '96 (Sofia) of my ministry." Nikolay Uzhakov '06 (Sofia) Forthcoming Event In March, Saint Trivelius Institute welcomes Dr. John Walton, Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, for a lecture series entitled: Origins Today: Genesis Through Ancient Eyes The rift between faith and science in Christian circles today often results in the marginalization of Christians engaged in the sciences, impediments to evangelism, and the attrition of young believers who are told that Christianity is incompatible with the acceptance of evolution or an old earth. John Walton's work in Genesis 1-3 offers a fresh perspective on this complex issue by seeking to understand the mes- sage of Scripture within its ancient context. Offer a Prayer Please take a moment to pray for St. Trivelius Institute. We are on the front line of a hard fought spiritual bat- tle for the future of the church, and your prayers are essential if we are to succeed in our mission. Please, pray for the following: Wisdom for the staff of St. Trivelius Institute as we shepherd students in their academic and spiritual walks. Power and discernment for the leadership as they navigate the complex paths of managing an educational institution in Bulgaria. A clear call to ministry for each of our students, and all of the tools necessary to prepare them for that work. Thank you! .