Rev. Tzvetko Bagranoff social plans 1905

After Rev. Tzvetko Bagrnoff graduated from Auburn TS he returned to Bulgaria as preacher and a teacher. In this article we see him also in a different light. Obviously he envisioned social involvement as well, his plan to start an old people's home based on American system.

Rev. George Popoff

Rev. George Popoff was born in Merichleri Bulgaria, he was a Pentecostal minister that managed to leave Bulgaria in the 1940's when communism came to power. He worked first in Germany and then USA on the west coast. He is the father of the often contraversial Rev. Peter Popoff. In this two pictures you can see the Popoff family in the 1950's.

Rev. Paul Mishkoff /Bulgarian Moody Institute graduate/

Samokov Protestant College /image/

On this photo we see seating right to left: Robert Thomson and Hennry Haskel

Ivan Kolesnikoff and Bulgarians

Since this blog started with a small series on the Russian missionary Ivan Voronaeff, I will like to continue in this direction and re-introduce Ivan A. Kolesnikoff. I am saying re-introduce since I have mentioned him at least two times in my previous blog. Short introduction we have Kolesnikoff mentioned as working as a missionary among the Bulgarians in Toronto. Well let's expand. Kolesnikoff was born in Russia and educated by orthodox clergymen, latter moved to Odessa and was converted in with his wife in 1889 to the Baptist church. After active preaching and exposing the mistakes of the orthodox church he was persecuted and was forced to emigrate first to Rumenia and then Bulgaria. /as I mentioned in my first blog this is a very interesting occurrence where North Dobrudja becomes a safe heaven for religious leaders fleeing tsarist Russia/ In Bulgaria he probably meet Ivan Ryaboshapka/another prominent Russian Baptist leader escaping religious persecution/. In 1903 he moves his family to USA and settles in Scranton PA, area with well known Slavic immigrant presence. There he works among Russians, Ukrainians and Bulgarians(this is new to me since I was aware only of Kolesnikoff's involvement with Bulgarians in Toronto/. In 1911 he moves to Toronto and continues to preach among the Slavs.

This post is also to reflect that for missionary boards /Baptist, Presbyterian, etc./ Slavic people were often grouped together we will see people like Kolesnikoff, Bagranoff, Katsunoff etc. working among a mix of Slavic nationals.

Also previously mentioned latter on Ivan Kolesnikoff makes a small statement about his fellow worker Ivan Voronaeff /after his Pentecostal conversion/. Interesting is also the fact that Voronaeff will return to Odessa /sire of Kolesnikoff's conversion/ and start his Pentecostal work among Ukrainians.

further let me mentioned that these immigration centers will re-circulate through our story line. Odessa will be starting point for Frederick W. Flocken /methodist missionaries to Bulgarians/ Burgass will be associated with Pentecostals, Constantinople will be site of Protestant publishing.

Voronaeff images 3

I have posted this image in a previous Blog, it shows again Ivan Voronaeff as present at an Russian Baptist Conference prior to his Pentecostal experience. He is seated 2nd row, 2nd from left to right. /the 5th person is Fetler a prominent Russian Baptist leader with British theologocal education, who for a wile kept good relations with members of Assemblies of God/.

Ivan Voronaeff images2

So it seams that before his conversion to Pentecostalism Ivan Voronaeff is present on most Russian-Ukrainian Baptist conventions in USA. Here is another picture proving that,.

he is seated on the first row 7th from left to right.