Public lecture by Assoc. Prof. Stefka Venkova, PhD, at the International Festival of Orthodox Music ‘Virgin Mary – It is Truly Meet’ in Pomorie

 Assoc. Prof. Stefka Venkova, PhD, delivered a public lecture on ‘Apostol Nikolaev-Strumski as a Church Conductor and Composer’ at the invitation of the Festival Secretariat of the International Festival of Orthodox Music ‘Virgin Mary – It is Truly Meet’, held from 10 to 14 June 2026 in Pomorie. The event was part of the meeting of church conductors at the Dechko Stoev Art Gallery in the city. The presentation, which presented the overall activity of the prominent church musician, as well as some new facts about him, was met with great interest.
Apostol Nikolaev-Strumski (1886–1971) was one of the composers of Orthodox music celebrated at the Festival on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of his birth. Stoyan Babekov’s 90th birthday (b. 1936) and the 70th anniversary of stavrophore oikonomos Kiril Popov, PhD (b. 1955) were also honoured. This year’s edition of the forum was also marked by the 1150th anniversary of the birth and the 1080th anniversary of the dormition of St John of Rila Miracle Worker and the 145th anniversary of the dormition of Father Neofit Rilski – pillars of Bulgarian spirituality.