Real Santa

The 98-year-old beggar, the grandfather Dobri from the Bulgarian village Bailovo, dressed in homespun clothes and ancient leather boots that he wears in winter and summer, often stands at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. Every day he gets up early and passes 10 kilometers from his village Bailovo to the capital.

He is not afraid of cold and bad weather. He is not angry with indifferent people.

Some still call him a hermit, an angel, God's wanderer from the past, a beggar. For many years he has been collecting funds for the restoration of churches throughout Bulgaria.

The old man radiates kindness and gentleness. He is ready to kiss the hand of the child, talk about God with every passer-by to thank for the charity.

In 2011, he turned 97, and he continues, with all his heart, to give his people wealth - kindness and humanity.

The meaning of the life of Grandfather Dobri is to help all needy and believing people. From day to day, from month to month, from year to year, in frost and hot , a lonely old man with a mug for begging wanders around his native land. All the money given to the poor he donates to the construction of Orthodox churches.

This old man is distinguished by his nobility and meekness. With a smile he will kiss the child's pen that left money in his mug, thanks for the alms, talks about God with the passers-by. Grandpa Dobri is not a beggar. He himself wants to save the souls of strangers. You can not call a poor man a man like him, forgetting about the needs, collecting money for the benefit of an elevated cause, which stands far from material wealth.

In 2010, while filming a documentary about Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a Bulgarian television journalist made a shocking discovery in the archives of the church - the most generous private donation that the cathedral ever received - EUR 40 000 was made by the old beggar-grandfather of Dobri.

The old man does not touch a single penny of the money that is given to him. He lives on his pension of 100 euros a month, as well as on non-monetary donations in the form of fruit and bread.

Grandpa Dobri helps and many others, for example, he paid the utility bills of the orphanage, which was on the verge of cutting off heat and light. In addition, he helps the homeless. But we will never know all the good deeds of Grandfather Dobri, because he never talks about them.

Grandfather Dobri had four children. He is taken care of by one of his daughters, who lives alone in Sofia. The old man does not hide his sorrow from the fact that he has traced his family and gave money from property to others. He does not like to talk about this. The old man lost his ear in the past in the war, being hit by a shell. What prompted him to become a stranger? He also keeps silent about this. Perhaps the role was played by the fact that in Bailovo there are no material goods and rich people. Elin Pelin himself writes that Baylovo is beautiful, but very poor. The old man made it so that his native village became spiritually rich. From time immemorial, people remember that Grandfather Dobri visits churches and monasteries, collects and helps.

Although he has a bed, he likes to sleep on the floor, does not want to use the amenities of modern civilization. On the table in a modest room there is only a slice of bread and a tomato. It's enough for him to live all day.

People who worked in the temple, as a token of gratitude, bought the furniture necessary for the old man, but he refused everything.
For children, the old man does not give dolls and trucks, but his example, conveys his hope for the return of people to spirituality.

Grandpa Dobri is an example for humanity, so that we think about our soul, morality and everyday behavior. How often people are unhappy and annoyed from the mere trifles, and grandfather Dobri rejoices every day in the world. How often we complain about such insignificant difficulties, and he thanks God for everything. His sincere love for each person touches his soul. "He rejoices like a child when anyone comes to him. He kneels down and kisses his hand. And after all, some people do not even give their hand to their close friends and friends. "