News - USA, Chicago, Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria

The Bulgarian community in the Chicago area marked the 80th anniversary of St. Sophia Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois, with a series of events held from September 17–24, 2026. Formally incorporated on March 1, 1946, St. Sophia has served for eight decades as a spiritual, cultural, and educational center for generations of Bulgarians in the Chicago area.

The 105th Convention of the Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO), one of the oldest organizations representing immigrants from the geographic region of Macedonia in North America, was held in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1922 by Macedonian-Bulgarians, today the MPO brings together immigrants, their descendants, and members connected to the geographic region of Macedonia, regardless of their ethnic background.

On June 13, 2026, the 48th Annual MacGahan Festival was held in New Lexington, Ohio, honoring the life and legacy of American journalist Januarius MacGahan, whose reports on the suppression of the April Uprising of 1876 helped bring international attention to the suffering of the Bulgarian people under Ottoman rule.

The Fifth Parade of Bulgaria in Chicago Once Again United the Community for May 24. The Bulgarian community in Chicago once again filled the streets of Elk Grove Village with Bulgarian flags, traditional folk costumes, and festive spirit during the Fifth Parade of Bulgaria. Dedicated to Bulgarian culture, language, and traditions, the event has established itself as one of the largest Bulgarian celebration outside the borders of Bulgaria.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Chicago organized a public lecture dedicated to the 83rd anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. The event was organized in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel in Chicago and the American Jewish Committee (AJC Chicago).

The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Chicago organized a flag raising ceremony at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria – March 3.

Indiana State Senate unanimously adopted a resolution formally recognizing the strategic partnership between the Republic of Bulgaria and the State of Indiana. The resolution was introduced by Senator Rodric Bray, President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

On October 19, the day of St. John (Ivan) of Rila the Wonderworker, the Bulgarian community in Chicago had a double reason for celebration. After a long hiatus, the activity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “St. Ivan Rilski,” which is now under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, was officially resumed.

From August 29 to September 1, 2025, the 104th Convention of the Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO) in the United States and Canada took place in Chicago. For more than a century, the MPO has been a guardian of the cultural heritage of Macedonian Bulgarians in America.

On June 14, the 47th MacGahan Festival took place in New Lexington, Ohio, honoring the life and legacy of American journalist Januarius MacGahan (1844–1878). As a correspondent for the British newspaper The Daily News, MacGahan exposed the brutal suppression of the April Uprising in Bulgaria in 1876, profoundly shifting public opinion in Britain and across Europe in favor of the Bulgarian cause for liberation.