Priests ask Madonna to cancel Bulgaria gig

SOFIA, Bulgaria, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A group of Bulgarian Orthodox priests have called for the cancellation of U.S. pop star Madonna's concert in Sofia because it coincides with a religious feast.

Orthodox priests in Plovdiv, southern Bulgaria, asked that the Madonna show be rescheduled from Aug. 29, St. John the Baptist day, when secular pleasures and merrymaking are not acceptable, the SNA news agency reported Wednesday.

Priest Emil Paralingov urged the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to intercede with authorities on the issue.

Madonna is to bring her Sticky&Sweet world tour to Sofia's Vasil Levski soccer stadium.