On a busy day in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, passersby would often spot an elderly man standing quietly outside churches with a plastic cup in his hand. His clothes were worn. His beard was long and white. To many, he looked like a homeless pensioner trying to survive on spare change. Yet there was something unusual about the way people greeted him. Some stopped to kiss his hand. Others bowed their heads respectfully. The man collecting coins was not asking for money for himself. Day after day, year after year, he was gathering donations that would eventually amount to more than $46,000, money he would give away almost entirely to orphanages, churches and charitable causes.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
