Ivan Voronaeff /images/

Ivan Voronaeff have plaid a pivotal role in introducing Pentecostal movement to Bulgaria. The fact that Bulgarian Protestants were ignorant of this new teaching for more than 10 years after the Azusa Revival is almost absurd. Mostly because Bulgaria was no longer territorially isolated and after 1878 both merchant and emigrants moved between USA and newly independent kingdom. Most of this travelers were also second generation Bulgarians influenced by American missionaries active among them since 1858. It is also natural to expect that a gate for a new teaching introduced from the west will be one of the common travel entry points. Either through the Black Sea, or the Danube frontier. As usual the southern part of the country at this point actively serviced by the ABCFM will be slow to produce a fertile ground for the Pentecostal movement. In the North  and North East socially Bulgarians were used at this point to a constant influx of ideas and emigration. Even before the 1820's waves of emigrants have crossed the Danube for protection by Russians, as well as Russian religious visionaries have moved in North Dobrudja to escape persecution in Russia. This created environment on which American Methodist missionaries tried to capitalized. The territory between the Danube and Bessarabia served as a fermenter of religious difference. Here Baptists, Lutherans, Adventists, Molokans, Lipovans and Methodist scraped their existence. Post 1878 Bulgarian sea ports were slowly been purged of ethinc diversity: Turks, Greeks; Armenians: Gagauzi etc were pressured to emigrate. It is worth mentioning Deliorman territory with its Muslim population which may have served as an isolator for religious diversity to filter and make towns like Silistra and Dobridje significant protestant centers during this period. In this respect Russe will be the major entry point for religious ideas, and an important Methodist center.

Post Russian Revolution 1817 Constantinople turned into an important center for Russian emigrants.

Ivan Voronaeff was not the first to bring Pentecostal renewal to Bulgarians. Before his trip a number of Bulgarians have already converted to the new teaching, however Voronaeff and Zaplishnie were first to preach in Bulgaria in an organized fashion. They perceive themselves as missionaries, while all efforts preceding them were done in a different matter. It is unconceivable that Bulgarian Protestants were not aware of the new movement, either informed by religious periodical, American missionaries/from traditional denominations/  worming them or converts sharing their experience back home. It is also unconceivable that Bulgaria was so territorially isolated that for 10 years news of the Pentecostal movement did not reach this territory. It will be very useful if in a future research historians concentrate in this pre-Voronaeff period and try to disclose what is known of Pentecostalism and Bulgarians.