September 9, 2009 14:34
Bulgarian church blames Madonna for boat tragedy Madonna Tickets
Her gig in Sofia shouldn't have gone ahead, according to Orthodox Church
Photo: PA Photos
Madonna's August 29 gig in Sofia, Bulgaria has been blamed by the country's Orthodox Church as the cause for the deaths of 15 citizens in a boating accident on September 5.
Nikolay, the metropolitan of Bulgarian city Plovdiv said the date of Madonna's gig should have been a day of contemplation rather than enjoyment, as it coincided with the commemorative anniversary of the beheading of John The Baptist, reports the The Daily Telegraph.
The September 5 tragedy occurred on Macedonia's Lake Ohrid, when a pleasure boat carrying Bulgarian tourists sank.
"The catastrophe in Macedonia in which 15 Bulgarian citizens died was a sign from heaven," Nikolay claimed. "The Orthodox Church had called for people not to enjoy themselves on the day marking the execution of John."
Nikolay went on to state that Madonna's gig should not have been allowed to take place. "We should not allow the young to have fun on a day that should be dedicated to spiritual reflection," he explained.
Last week, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov chastised sports officials for allowing the concert to go ahead, after it became clear that the grass at the Vasil Levski National Stadium had been damaged as a result of the gig, reports Novinite.com.
"Even though we could not possibly cancel the concert, it is our obligation to preserve and protect the national stadium," Borisov told ministers.
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| Date/Time | Venue | Town/City | Seetickets | Viagogo |
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| Jul 17, 2012 16:30 | Hyde Park | N | Tickets not currently available. |
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