A Story Of A Homeless Beggar Of Bailovo- Dobri Dobrev (Unsung Heroes Part-6)

Dobri Dobrev is also known as ‘Grandpa Dobri’, ‘Elder Dobri’ or ‘The Saint of Bailovo’. He is known for his kindness and selflessness. At the age when people either relaxing with their retirement and pension income. He was the one who lived for the needy people and contributed himself to the restoration of Churches, Orphanages, and humanity.

His selflessness, commitment, determination, enthusiasm, energy make me curious to know more about him. And I am so amazed that someone could be so kind that he donated all his money for his faith in GOD and the welfare of people.

It is a story of a Sheppard born on 20 July 1914 in a small village Bailovo, near Sofia, Bulgaria. He was the smallest of 4 children of Dimitar and Katerina Dobrev. His life was full of struggle, from an early age he worked in the field along with his mother for livelihood.

At the age of two, his father died while fighting in World War 1. He had a lot of responsibilities as being the only male in the family. He used to work with his mother on large farms with plows.

There is not much information about his early age and even Dobri Dobrev didn’t remember his early and young age.

He believes in God and spirituality, he follows the rule of Orthodoxy, and his simplicity, kindness made him a Saint for the people of Bailovo.

How Dobri Dobrev Becomes Saint For The people?

In this materialistic world where people are busy with themselves and have no time for others, Dobri is an inspiration for all of us. He lived among us but was the exceptional extraordinary spiritual. The old man walked over 20 km each day to collect money as a donation from people and then donated everything for the restoration of orthodox churches, monasteries, and the welfare of people.

The old long-beard man travels 25 km from his village to Sofia on foot for more than 20 years. Later when age hit him he had to rely on the bus or sometimes neighbors drove him back to Sofia, he loved to talk about God and faith with every passer-by.

But, why he was doing that? And, what made him to left everything and live a life for God & others?

Dobri’s young age had a lot of hurdles as I mentioned he worked on a large farm with plows and also at the age of 17 he started working for the royal family. He became the personal bodyguard of King Boris III to Manage his daily needs.

Dobri got married around 1940. He also served his country in world war II as a sergeant. In the war, a bomb exploded near him, and due to this, his ability to hear was partially affected. During the war, he saw the death of many of his friends and families which broke him inside. That was the turning point of his life when he dedicated his life entirely to God.

The spiritual being overtook his mind and soul. Dobri was a follower of orthodox rules. He left his family and went for doing exceptional work. He always dressed as a shepherd, had a long white beard, torn clothes, and wear peasant leather sandals.

The old man used to sleep on the floor and lived in one small room away from any materialistic facilities, eating only bread and a piece of tomato but later his daughter started taking care of him due to his age issue.

His devotion towards God was so pure that he awake till late at night to read Bible with an arrangement of only wire and bulb for lighting.

He was so generous, as an incident communicated by her daughter Bogdana Dobreva that once she found some coins in his rooms while cleaning the room. She immediately put the coins in a fish tin because once his father told her that- “I have accumulated the money in front of the church and this is the money of God. Never use that money, If you have your money, give a bit to the needy but if you use God’s money then it will bring you more distress.”

He used to sit or stand in front of churches and walk to collect donations, people come and drop coins into his wooden or plastic cup.

Often, people also made wrong horrible assumptions towards Dobri that he collects money for filing treasure or might have lots of money at his home. Due to this, some people also break the door of a house in his absence but they never find even a single penny. From that point, people came to know about his true intention.

He Donated All Of His Money & Belongings

Dobri Dobrev had a strong faith in God he always says “Don’t be scared about what God gives you because whatever you have is everything and forever. Focus only on God and what he asks you for. It is most important to give all your love to God”.

Love for God had separated him from his family for a long period. He was on a mission to save future generations regarding spirituality and restoration of the Church. He believes that if you focus on family, you probably will not focus on God.

In his documentary, he says “Don’t Focus on the family focus only on God and what he asks to do. You should learn to think deeply about God, and most of him. Family can distract us, we focus more on family and may forget God. It’s like a child when you give them a toy, they forget about everything else”.

He often went to the different monasteries and one day was the same as all other days he was in monasteries when his mother died. His children try to find him but they didn’t know where he was. So, they buried her without him.

As I said, people had different perceptions regarding him that he might use all the collected money for himself or save for future purposes. However, the true picture is different he never uses that money for his own. Once The Greatest Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral (St. Alexandar Nevsky) was going through a financial crunch.

The bishops were in trouble that how to replenish the Cathedral because it is the biggest attraction point of the city but a poor old man solved their problem. He was not a businessman, nor any celebrity, he was the beggar who used to stand in front of the church for collecting money.

Grandpa Dobrev gave 35,700 Bulgarian Leva, approximately (20,000) Euro to the management of the Cathedral for replenishing the Cathedral. He was the highest donor of the city surpassing all the businessmen.

Also, he donated 2,500 to 10,000 Euros to small monasteries and churches for shaping the new. He helped lots of needy people. It is calculated that Elder Dobrev has donated over 40,000 Euros, which was his entire collection of 20 years of begging in stairs of temples.

Dobri Dobrev- Powerful Spiritual Leader

Live For Yourself, You Will Live In Vain.

Live For Others, You Will Live Again

BOB MARLEY

Elder Dobrev is a perfect example of the above quote, he never thinks of himself. He was the old-age pensioner but still, he begged for others. He could use the collected money for him but he chose the path to give it to others. It requires big courage & heart to be like Dobri Dobrev.

He did exactly what God wants him to do, it’s like God touched his heart.

At the age when the mind stopped working, the body becomes fragile, Visibility goes to lessen, low appetite Dobri Dobrev was continuously working for God and the welfare of the needy. Whosoever gave him a coin & offerings he bowed his head in front of them and kisses their hand as gratitude. He never disrespected people for donating less or more.

In my opinion, people like him are extremely rare. His mission was clear and pure and beyond the borders of our consciousness. Dobri decided to go on a road that ordinary humans can never imagine. He lived in a completely different world.

Grandpa never sought attention but his work made him famous in Bulgaria and far beyond the borders of Bulgaria. ‘The Silent Angel’, a documentary was also made on him.

He took his final breath on 13 February 2018 at the age of 103, but never died. The story of Dobri Dobrev is all about true happiness, a true meaning, a selfless mission, and the choices made. In Bulgarian, his name translates as ‘Good’ or ‘Kind’. Now he is also known as “The Saint Of Bailovo”– Dobri Dobrev.

Sources-

The Silent Angel- A Documentary (Must Watch)

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