THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

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The film follows the exciting life of legendary Father Georgi from Zheglartsi (1923-2015) with powerful shots from the last year of his life, and his inspired preaching on his very deathbed. With no pride-modesty the starets recounts the epic of his life in Christ during communism. He was not scared nor silenced, he did not budge nor flee, he did not yield to temptation, to revenge, or to hatred. A genuine hard-working proletarian, with muscles and character of iron, he rose up to his full stature against the System and defeated it in single combat. In the hard years of atheistic persecution, when many priests renounced their faith and abandoned their ministry, the uneducated labourer from the obscure village decided to fill the void, and to become a priest. Admitted, by miracular coincidence, at the Theological Seminary, he found there his true vocation as an Orthodox priest, and preached his faith for the rest of his life without fear and without reproach. All attempts by the authorities to intimidate or "reward" him were shattered in his fearless spirit and unshakable faith. His example was so inspiring that in the days of state atheism, as many as 20 boys from tiny Zheglartsi followed in his footsteps and became priests. With generosity, love of neighbor, and forgiveness, the warrior of Christ lived out his last earthly years and days full of joy and trust in God. The life story of Father George reveals the crucial importance of the person who does not bend under the circumstances, but moulds them in his own image and likeness.
The film has won five prestigious awards at international film festivals: the Golden Knight award for full-length documentary at the Golden Knight Film Festival in Russia. (shared with a documentary by Emil Kosturitsa) A Bronze Knight special award at the same festival. Special awards at the film festivals in Krasnodar, Obninsk (both in Russia), and Zajecar, Serbia.
With the support of the Bulgarian National Culture Fund, the documentary The Way of the Warrior about legendary Father George from Zheglartzi has been translated into 4 more languages - English, French, German, and Greek.