Ivaylovgrad mayor Diana Ovcharova invited a 90-year-old man to her office. The municipality said he looked after the church in Ladzha for many years.

The two talked about life, about people, about Ivaylovgrad and about what stays valuable over the years. The man knows the sound of the bell in Ladzha.

He also raised the issue of the church in the village of Siv Kladenets, which has no bell. He said it is not just a church matter but a question of faith, memory and belonging.

Ovcharova made a commitment to make the issue public and to look for ways to help and find a solution.

The meeting came a month after a surprise for his birthday. On 2 October, relatives, friends and officials joined the mayor to greet him on his 90th year. The municipality said there was emotion, hugs and tears, and the message to him was "We have not forgotten you".

The man does not seek recognition. The municipality calls him a "budител" – a guardian of national heritage – who has rung the church bell for years.

The story is part of a series on the "budители" of Ivaylovgrad, marking National Revival Figures' Day.