Eugene Bossilkov was a Bulgarian Catholic prelate and a member of the Passionist Congregation who served as the Bishop of Nicopolis. Born in Belene in 1900, he pursued advanced theological studies in Rome, focusing on the historical union between Bulgaria and the Holy See. Following his appointment to the episcopacy in 1947, he faced intense persecution from the communist government that had taken power in his country. He was arrested in 1952 and eventually executed by a firing squad for crimes he did not commit.
Life and death
After entering the Passionist order at age 14, Bossilkov was ordained a priest in 1926. He worked extensively with the laity and youth in the Danube River valley. Following the establishment of a communist regime, the state targeted religious leaders, leading to his arrest in Sofia. During a staged trial, he was accused of espionage and subversion. He was executed on November 11, 1952, and his body was placed in a mass grave.
Veneration
In 1998, Pope John Paul II beatified Bossilkov, recognizing him as a martyr. He is commemorated within the Catholic Church, with his feast day observed on November 11. Additionally, the Bulgarian National Assembly officially rehabilitated him in 2010.