ORDO SUPREMUS MILITARIS TEMPLI HIEROSOLYMITANI
GRAND PRIORY OF BULGARIA
INFORMATION
OSMTH Grand Magistral Council – Fall 2016
OSMTH Grand Chapter General meeting & Investiture
Sofia
BULGARIA
12-16 OCTOBER 2016
NON NOBIS DOMINE NON NOBIS SED NOMINI TUO DA GLORIAM
SOFIA General Information
Sofia (pronounced [ˈsɔfijɐ]) is the biggest city and capital of Bulgaria, as well as the 15th biggest city in the European Union with a population of 1,267,098 people (last officially registered in 2014, unofficially – there are around 2 000 000 resi- dents). It is the major administrative, industrial, transport, cultural and educational center of the country, concentrating 17 percent of the population and one sixth of the industrial production in Bulgaria. Protected by three mountains, Sofia Kettle enjoys a pleasant temperate continental climate, while its altitude of 550 meters above sea level gives it fourth position among the capitals of Europe. Sofia and the kettle are dominated by Vitosha Mountain. Few capital cities in the world can boast so beautiful, so close and easily accessible Natural Park.
With its seven thousand-year history, the city is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe, and its numerous historical and architectural monuments harbor the wise messages of cen- tennial cultural experience. The very name of the city, Sofia (from Greek “σοφία”, “wis- dom”), has preserved for the generations one of the most beautiful cultural symbols of Christi- anity – the 'divine wisdom'. The city with the motto “It Grows but Does not Age” is the suc- cessor of the ancient Roman city of Serdica that early in the 2nd century AD grew into a regional center in the Roman Empire and at the end of the 3rd century AD it became the capital of the newly established province of Inner Dacia (Dacia Mediterranea).
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The ancient city of Serdica (modern Sofia) was the place where the Edict of Tol- eration was issued by the Roman emperor Galerius in 311, officially ending the Diocletianic persecution of Christianity. The Edict implicitly granted Christianity the status of "religio licita", a worship recognized and accepted by the Roman Em- pire. It was the first edict legalizing Christianity, preceding the Edict of Milan of emperors Constantine I and Licinius by two years.
Since ancient times the town and its sur- roundings have been famous for the abun- abundance of hot and cold mineral springs, which still continue to gush into the center of modern Sofia, accessible to all, and attracting Sofia citizens and the guests of the capital with their numerous healing qualities.
The plenty of antiquities in the city is combined with many modern concert halls, opera, major national museums, art galleries, theatres, clubs, discos, jazz and un- derground locales offering exciting experiences for all tastes and preferences. The dynamic development of the city in recent years has provided many amenities for business trips, congress tourism, business meetings and trade shows. Sofia is an excellent place for culinary and wine-tasting tourism. Many modern cafes, bars, bistros and restaurants of varied designs offer an impressive menu list, in which any of the gourmet specialties of modern culinary world is hardly absent. Sofia also provides excellent conditions for sport – several stadia and well equipped gyms, outdoor tennis courts, golf courses and facilities for horseback riding, spa pools. And only twenty minutes from downtown, during the winter, in the great Vitosha Nature Park one can even ski at night.
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SOFIA LANDMARKS
1. Churches
The Church of St George is a late Ro- man rotunda dated from 4th century situated in the courtyard of the Shera- Church of ton Sofia Hotel. It was constructed St George with red bricks and is considered the oldest building in Sofia. It is known for its Medieval frescoes in the central dome dating from 12th-14th centuries.
The early Byzantine Church of St So- phia was built in the 6th century on the place of an ancient Roman theatre and Church of several earlier churches. During the St Sophia Second Bulgarian Empire the structure served as the cathedral of the city but was later converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Empire.
The Boyana Church is a medieval Bul- garian Orthodox church situated on the Boyana outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bul- Church garia, in the Boyana quarter. The mon- ument was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
The tiny Church of St Petka of the th Church of Saddlers from the 14 century featur- ing some fine frescoes. It is a one-nave St Petka edifice dedicated to St Petka, an 11th century Bulgarian saint.
It was created between 1901 and 1902 through the conversion of an aban- doned Ottoman mosque, and was inau- Church of gurated on 27 July 1903.The so-called St. Sedmo- Black Mosque was built in 1528 on the chislenitsi order of Suleiman the Magnificent with the intention to be more impres- sive and beautiful than the Christian churches in the city.
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St Nedelya is a medieval church that has suffered destruction through the ages and has been reconstructed many Church of times. It was razed in the assault in 1925 that claimed over 150 victims. St Nedelya After the assault, the church was re- stored to its modern appearance. Today
St Nedelya is a cathedral of the Sofia bishopric of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in the early 20th century in memory of the 200,000 Alexander Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian and Bulgarian soldiers, who died in the Nevsky Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878. It is Cathedral one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. The cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m high, with the bell tower reaching 50.52 m.
The church, dedicated to Saint Par- askeva, is the third-largest church in Church of Sofia. The construction of the Church St. Paraskeva of St Paraskeva was complete by 1930, but the finishing works on the porticos did not cease until 1940.
The Russian Church or the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, built in 1914 is dedicated to the patron-saint of the Russian Tsar at the time Nicho- Russian Church las II. The construction was supervised by the architect A. Smirnov, who was building the Alexander Nevsky Cathe- dral nearby.
The Roman Catholic cathedral in Sofia was rebuilt at its previous location af- ter it has been destroyed by the Allied bombing raids during World War II. It was inaugurated on 21 May 2006 in Cathedral of the presence of Angelo Cardinal So- St Joseph dano, Dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Secretary of State of the Roman Catholic Church. The founda- tion stone of the new cathedral was
laid personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Bulgaria in 2002.
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The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, bet- ter known as the Rila Monastery (Bulgar- ian: Рилски манастир, Rilski manastir) is the largest and most famous Eastern Or- thodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situat- ed in the southwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km (73 mi) south of the capital Sofia Rila Monastery in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 1,147 m (3,763 ft) above sea level. The monastery is named after (Monastery of Saint Ivan of its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD). Rila) Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgar- ia's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southern Europe. In 2015 alone, it at- tracted 900,000 visitors.
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2. Museums The National Historical Museum is among the largest museums in Eastern National Europe and possesses more than 650,000 artifacts. Ancient Thracian Historical treasures, artifacts from Hellenistic, Museum Roman and Medieval periods, church icons are among the most valuable objects in the collection. The National Archaeological Museum occupies the largest and oldest former Ottoman mosque in the city built in National 1474. It has a large collection of ar- Archaeological chaeological artifacts from all over the Museum Balkans including some of the golden Thracian treasures. The museum is among Bulgaria's oldest and was inau- gurated in 1905.
The National Military History Muse- National Museum um is a Bulgarian museum based in of Military History Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and ded- icated to military history.
It's one of the biggest mineralogical Earth and Man museums in the world. It was founded National Museum on 30 December 1985 and opened for visitors on 19 June 1987.
The museum's collection includes over 400 stuffed mammals, over 1,200 spe- cies of birds, hundreds of thousands of insects and other invertebrata, as well as samples of about one quarter of the National Museum world's mineral species. The National of Natural History Museum of Natural History was founded in 1889 as the Natural History Museum of Knyaz Ferdinand of Bul- garia (Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Le- opold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and Go- tha).
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3. Arts and culture It is located on Battenberg Square in the capital city of Sofia, occupying most of the historic and imposing National Art edifice of the former royal palace of Gallery Bulgaria, having been established in 1934 and moved to the palace in 1946, after the abolition of the mon- archy. The National Gallery “Square 500” occupies an imposing 19th century building. The Bulgarian collection was set up in the end of the 19th cen- tury. The permanent exposition fea- tures Bulgarian art as well as Europe- National Gallery an, Asian (Buddhist, Japanese and Indian) and African art. There is a “Square 500” separate contemporary art and en- graving sections. The museum’s ex- position area occupies 28 halls and presents 2000 works of art from the
collections of National museum com- plex which includes more than 42 000 objects. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Bulgarian Acad- Academicians, Correspondent Mem- emy of Sciences bers and Foreign Members. It pub- lishes and circulates different scien- tific works, encyclopedias, dictionar-
ies and journals, and runs its own publishing house. The St. Clement of Okhrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888. The university's edifice was con- Sofia University structed between 1924 and 1934 with the financial support of the brothers Evlogi Georgiev and Hristo Georgiev, whose sculptures are now featured on its facade, and has an area of 18,624 m² and a total of 324 premises.
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The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is Bulgaria's national theatre, as well as Ivan Vazov the oldest and most respected theatre National Theatre in the country and one of the im- portant landmarks of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
Founded on 4 April 1878, the library SS. Cyril and received the status of Bulgarian Na- Methodius tional Library three years later and the National Library Bulgarian National Revival Archive was merged into it in 1924.
The National Palace of Culture cul- National Palace tural and congressional center — the largest multifunctional complex in of Southeastern Europe, inaugurated in Culture 1981 and situated in a lush green park surroundings.
Coat of arms of Sofia with the motto “It Grows but Does not Age”
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MEETING HOTEL
HOTEL MARINELA, SOFIA
Located on the highest point of the city in the most sought after residential area, inspired by new architectural trends and a wondrous blending of tradition and in- novation Hotel Marinela has been designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the author of a number of world landmarks.
The hotel boasts amazing infrastructure built on 30 000 m2 with 442 rooms and elegant suites, including the biggest Presi- dential suite in Bulgaria, and offering stunning panoramic views over Sofia and Vitosha mountain.
Hotel Marinela avails of the biggest hotel conference facilities in the capital, with 13 meeting rooms, the biggest ballroom in Sofia, boardrooms with day light and a meeting hall at the top floor revealing Sofia at your feet.
The hotel also offers a modern health club with the biggest hotel swimming pool in the city and the only Japanese garden on the Balkan Peninsula, modelled after the 400-year-old Japanese garden at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.
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SOFIA AIRPORT
Sofia Airport is the main airport of Bulgaria. The airport is located 5 km (3.1 miles) east from the center of Sofia. In 2014 the airport handled 3,815,158 passengers, an 8.9% increase compared to 3,504,326 handled in 2013.
Regarding the airport-hotel transfer, besides the general information included below, the Grand Priory of Bulgaria will provide organized transport according to further specified schedule and upon received by the Grand Priory of Bulgaria information concerning the number of delegates/guests, date and time of arri- val/departure and flight number. The Grand Priory of Bulgaria will reply any such information received with confirmation email.
Transport links
Metro
Sofia Airport Metro Station of Line 1(Red line) is situated next to Terminal 2 of the airport and provides a fast connection to the city center. The price of a single ride ticket is 1 lev (~0.50 EUR). The ticket is valid for the entire Sofia Metro network, including the transfer to Line 2 (Blue line). Transfer station between the Red (M1) and Blue (M2) lines is “Serdika”. Tickets can be purchased from the cashier desks in the metro station or from ticket machines. The Line 2 Metro Station near the meeting Hotel Marinela is “James Bourchier”.
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A free shuttle is available from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 and the Metro Station be- tween 07:00 and 19:00 h. After 19:00 h the shuttle can be requested at the infor- mation desk.
Bus
Two bus routes (No 84 and 384) connect the airport.
• Line 84 goes to the Sofia University and connects the airport with the city center. • Line 384 which connect the airport with the Tsarigradsko shose Metro Sta- tion.
Car
Brussels Boulevard is the main thoroughfare and the easiest way to reach Sofia Airport.
Via Brussels Boulevard and Tsarigradsko shose, Sofia Airport is connected to the city center and eastwards to Trakia motorway (A1).
From the northern city areas, Sofia Airport is conveniently accessible via the East Tangent road. Its junction with Botevgradsko Shose opens an exit into Hemus mo- torway (A2).
To the south parts of Sofia and southwest Bulgaria the easy way to connect is via Brussels Boulevard and Boulevard Aleksandar Malinov to Sofia ring road which is connected with Lyulin motorway (A6).
Inter-terminal transport
Sofia Airport provides a courtesy shuttle between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at every 30 minutes between 07:00h-19:00h. The stop locations of the shuttle bus in front of both terminals are designated by signage and pavement markings.
Train
A specially build train station was inaugurated in April 2015 and it's connecting the airport with the national railway system of Bulgaria. The new train station is inter- connected with Sofia Airport through the Metro System of Sofia.
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Program – GMC 2016
Sofia
BULGARIA
12-16 October 2016
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Arrival day in Sofia
14:00-20:00 Registration at the registration desk in the Meeting Hotel Marinela
20:00-21:00 Welcome drink at the Lobby Bar of Hotel Marinela, hosted by the Grand Priory of Bulgaria (will include a glass of red or white wine under soft music performance)
For all interested: the Lobby Bar is open until 24:00, menu in- cludes wide range of drinks, beverages, sandwiches and nuts – non hosted.
Private one-to-one Meetings with the Grand Master (with previous notice)
Private one-to-one Meetings with the Grand Commander (with previous notice)
Thursday, 13 October 2016
8:30-10:30 GMC Meeting
10:30-10:45 Coffee break and snacks
10:45-13:00 GMC Meeting
13:00-14:00 Lunch at restaurant Ambassador (Hotel Marinela)
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
14:00-16:00 GMC Meeting
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16:00-16:15 Coffee break and snacks
16:15-18:00 GMC Meeting
Evening – free time (no dinner included)
In the meantime – sightseeing tour for guests
Friday, 14 October 2016
8:30-10:30 GCG Meeting
10:30-10:45 Coffee break and snacks
10:45-13:00 GCG Meeting
13:00-14:00 Lunch at restaurant Ambassador (Hotel Marinela)
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
14:00-15:30 GMC Meeting
15:30-15:45 Coffee break and snacks
15:45-17:00 GMC Meeting
In the meantime – sightseeing tour for guests
18:00 Departure of buses for National Historical Museum
18:30-19:30 Visit to the National Historical Museum
250 m walk on asphalt alley from National Historical Museum to Boyana Residence Bulding No. 2
19:30-22:00 Cocktail at Boyana Residence (Building No. 2)
The cocktail will include red and white wines, cocktail bites and salads, hot and cold buffets, gourmet buffet with cheeses and salamis, pastries and fruits.
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
Dress code: black suit with four-in-hand black tie
22:10 Departure of buses for Hotel Marinela
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Saturday, 15 October 2016
8:30-10:30 GMC Meeting
10:30-10:45 Coffee break and snacks
10:45-13:00 GMC Meeting
13:00-14:00 Lunch at restaurant Ambassador (Hotel Marinela)
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
15:30 XXIII C & I of Grand Priory of Bulgaria, Installation of elected Grand Magistral Officers and award presentation of OSMTH
About 18:00 End of ceremony
19:30 Reception in Hotel Marinela (Foyer of Sofia Grand Hall)
20:00-23:00 Gala Dinner (Sofia Grand Hall)
Dress code: black tie/evening dress with regalia
Sunday, 16 October 2016
10:00 AM Joint Breakfast for all Members, Guest and Friends who are still present
Dress code: casual
Departure
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Side Program Friends & Family
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Arrival day in Sofia
14:00-20:00 Registration at the registration desk in the Meeting Hotel Marinela
20:00-21:00 Welcome drink at Hotel Marinela (hosted by the Grand Priory of Bulgaria)
Dress code: casual
Thursday, 13 October 2016
9:30 Departure of buses from Hotel Marinela for Rila Monastery (about 120 km far from Sofia)
11:00 Arrival at Rila Monastery
11:00-12:30 Visit of Rila Monastery with guide (in English)
12:30 Departure of the buses from Rila Monastery
13:15 Lunch in Dupnitsa (hosted by Commandery Rila of the Grand Priory of Bulgaria)
17:00 Arrival at Hotel Marinela
Dress code: casual
Evening – free time (no dinner included)
Friday, 14 October 2016
9:30-12:30 Sightseeing tour of Sofia
13:00-14:00 Lunch at restaurant Ambassador (Hotel Marinela)
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
18:00 Departure of buses for National Historical Museum
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18:30-19:30 Visit to the National Historical Museum
250 m walk on asphalt alley from National Historical Museum to Boyana Residence Bulding No. 2
19:30-22:00 Cocktail at Boyana Residence (Building No. 2)
The cocktail will include red and white wines, cocktail bites and salads, hot and cold buffets, gourmet buffet with cheeses and salamis, pastries and fruits.
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
Dress code: Black Suit with four-in-hand black tie
22:10 Departure of buses for Hotel Marinela
Saturday, 15 October 2016
8:30-13:00 Free time
13:00-14:00 Lunch at restaurant Ambassador (Hotel Marinela)
(IMPORTANT: registration badges serve as passes)
15:30 XXIII C & I of Grand Priory of Bulgaria, Installation of elect- ed Grand Magistral Officers and award presentation of OS- MTH
About 18:00 End of ceremony
19:30 Reception in Hotel Marinela (Foyer of Sofia Grand Hall)
20:00-23:00 Gala Dinner (Sofia Grand Hall)
Dress code: Black Tie/Evening Dress
Sunday, 16 October 2016
10:00 AM Joint Breakfast for all Members, Guest and Friends who are still present
Dress code: Casual
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Registration and Conference Fee
Before August 1 2016 Members: 300 Euro Friends and Family: 220 Euro
August 1 – September 10 2016
Members: 350 Euro Friends and Family: 270 Euro
Registration dead line 10th of September 2016
Registrations after the dead line will not be accepted!
REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES (for members)
• Welcome drink: Wednesday • The GMC meetings’ attendance • Daily lunches: Thursday, Friday, Saturday • Scheduled airport-hotel-airport transfer • Scheduled side program • Cocktail at Boyana Residence (red and white wines, cock- tail bites and salads, hot and cold buffets, gourmet buffet with cheeses and salamis, pastries and fruits) • C&I • Gala Dinner on Saturday
REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES (for family and friends)
• Welcome drink: Wednesday • Daily lunches: Thursday, Friday, Saturday • Trips for family and friends, according to scheduled side program • Scheduled airport-hotel-airport transfer • Cocktail at Boyana Residence (red and white wines, cock- tail bites and salads, hot and cold buffets, gourmet buffet with cheeses and salamis, pastries and fruits) • C&I • Gala Dinner on Saturday
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The Bank Account for the Registration Fee:
Bank: Investbank JSC Account Holder’s Name: ORTY-Bulgaria Bank Address: Sofia, Bulgaria 25A Cherni vrah blvd.
IBAN: BG49IORT80381400177900 – in euro. BIC: IORTBGSF Subject/Purpose: Registration and conference fee
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Hotel Room Reservations
Hotel Marinela Sofia Tel +359 2 969 2222 James Bourchier Boulevard 100 Fax +359 2 969 2223 1407 Sofia, BULGARIA
Reservation directly through the hotel front desk – Code: “OSMTH Bulgaria”
Email Address: [email protected]
Preferential Rates Preferential Rates Room types per night in Euro per night in Euro Single Double Standart 55 Euro 65 Euro Deluxe 65 Euro 75 Euro Junior Suite 130 Euro 140 Euro To the following prices do not include city tax of 0,67 Euro per person per night
Breakfast included. Other facilities included: Wi-Fi in all areas, indoor pool and fitness center. For any further facilities and services not included in these prices, but offered by the hotel, refer to the Hotel Marinela’s front desk or the official website: http://www.hotel-marinela.com/
CONTACTS
For any further information:
Mr. Angel Kabakchiev
Mobile: +359 888 50 44 00 Email: [email protected]
During the GMC (from 12 October until 16 October 2016)
Chvse. Maria Stefanova DOTJ – Deputy-Chairwoman of the Organization Committee of Grand Priory of Bulgaria Mobile: +359 888 57 17 25
Accreditation desk (from 12 October until 16 October 2016)
Mobile: +359 884 22 22 24
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