Dobri Dobrev

Dobri Dimitrov Dobrev (Bulgarian: Добри Димитров Добрев, pronounced [ˈdɔbri dimiˈtrɔf ˈdɔbrɛf]; 20 July 1914 – 13 February 2018), better known as Grandpa Dobri, Elder Dobri (Bulgarian: Дядо Добри, romanized: Dyado Dobri) or The Saint of Bailovo,[1] was a Bulgarian ascetic who walked over 20 kilometres (12 mi) each day to sit or stand in front of the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia to collect money for charitable causes. Dobrev donated all the money he collected to charities, orphanages, churches, and monasteries. He turned 100 in July 2014.[2] In Bulgarian, his name translates as "good" or "kind".

For the association football player, see Dobri Dobrev (footballer).
In this Eastern Slavic name, the patronymic is Dimitrov and the family name is Dobrev.

Dobri Dobrev
Dobri Dobrev in 2006
Born
Dobri Dimitrov Dobrev

(1914-07-20)20 July 1914
Bailovo, Kingdom of Bulgaria
Died13 February 2018(2018-02-13) (aged 103)
Kremikovtsi Monastery, Bulgaria
NationalityBulgarian
Other namesElder Dobri, Grandpa Dobri
OccupationAscetic
Known forCharity
Children4

Early life

Dobrev was born 20 July 1914 in the village of Bailovo.[3] His father, Dimitar, died in World War I and his mother, Katerina,[4] had to raise their children by herself.[5] Dobrev did not remember his youth and school years.[3]

Adult life

Over the years, Dobrev became detached from the material aspects of life and devoted himself entirely to the spiritual world, specifically in the Orthodox faith. Around the year 2000, he decided to donate all his belongings to the Orthodox church when he began to live very modestly in a small extension to the Saints Cyril and Methodius parish church in his native village of Bailovo. About that time, he embarked on his mission to raise funds for the restoration of churches and monasteries across Bulgaria.[6] It is this new direction in life and the example he gave with his asceticism that led many to call him The Saint of Bailovo.[7]

Over the course of his lifetime, Dobrev donated over 80,000 Bulgarian lev (40,000 euros)[8] to churches, monasteries and other noble deeds. Among his biggest donations are:

  • 10,000 Bulgarian lev (5,000 euros) to the Saints Cyril and Methodius parish church in his native Bailovo[9]
  • 25,000 Bulgarian lev (12,500 euros) for restoration of the Eleshnishki Monastery Mother Mary located to the east of Sofia, and the local church in the village of Gorno Kamartsi.[9]
  • 35,700 Bulgarian lev (17,850 euros) for the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, which is the biggest donation in the known history of the over 100-year-old cathedral.[10]

Personal life and death

Dobrev married around 1940, as Bulgaria joined World War II. In one of the bombings of Sofia, a bomb fell near him and he lost almost all his hearing.[11] Dobrev and his wife had four children, two of whom he outlived.[5] Dobrev was an Orthodox Christian and commonly talked about Jesus to others whether they donated or not. He was usually very thankful to those who donated.

Dobrev died on 13 February 2018, at Kremikovtsi Monastery. He was 103.[11]

References
  1. "Дядо Добри". БНТ. 17 December 2010. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  2. "Дядо Добри на 100 години" (in Bulgarian). Vesti.bg. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  3. "Bulgarian beggar, dubbed a 'living saint', dies aged 103". New Strait Times. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  4. "Дядо Добри – светецът от Байлово". Българска история. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  5. "Falleció el principal donante de la Iglesia búlgara, un mendigo de 103 años". Clarin. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. Дядо Добри от Байлово – България on YouTube – част от филма „Лепта" (2000 г.), продукция на фондация „Покров Богородичен"
  7. "Дядо Добре Добрев – божий странник, пътник от бъдещето, Деси Велева". в. „Дума". 17 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  8. "98-year-old homeless Bulgarian man donates thousands to restore churches".
  9. Lubomir (15 May 2012). "Heavenly dreams of Easter". c. "Standard". Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  10. Goldberg, Eleanor (27 February 2014). "This 99-Year-Old Man Begs Every Day And Gives It All Away To Churches And Orphanages" – via Huff Post.
  11. "Elder Dobri passes away at 103". Radio Bulgaria. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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