On June 15, 2025, with the blessing of Metropolitan Daniel of Sofia and Bulgarian Patriarch, a water blessing service was held at St. Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia.
The prayer service was dedicated to the participants of the event called “The Great March for the Family,” organized by civic associations and supported by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate.
The water blessing was officiated by Archimandrite Ioan, Protosyncellus of the Sofia Holy Metropolis, concelebrating with Priest Methodius Korchev, chairman of St. Nicholas Church, Priest Dilyan Tsvetkov, chairman of St. Prophet Elijah Church, and Protodeacon Ivan Petkov. Several clergy members from the Sofia Diocese also participated in prayer.
Following the blessing, Archimandrite Ioan read an address from the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to the public and participants of the Family March. The statement emphasized: “Each year, the Holy Synod raises its voice in disagreement with the propaganda of sin, which essentially the so-called ‘gay pride’ represents. The dictatorship of minorities cannot be portrayed as a democratic process. To this aggressive display and propaganda, the Orthodox Church always responds with the dignity of virtue. God is particularly delicate; He does not force man, does not compel him to believe or act against his will, but reveals Himself in the most suitable way for each person.”
The address continued: “We will not convince society of our truth by any other means but by virtuous living, where each of us serves as an example to others. The strongest defense of the family is through true Christian families. What we need is faith and pious living, regular participation in public worship, a God-blessed marital union, conjugal fidelity, spouses devoted to each other and caring for their children.”
“In our boldness, let us remember that the success of every endeavor depends on God’s grace, for without God, we can do nothing. Let us, as we gathered here today, always come together on Sundays and feast days in Orthodox churches for the Divine Liturgy, where God truly dwells and nourishes our souls with the grace of common prayer and the holy sacraments.”
Thousands of people attended the march, carrying Bulgarian flags. The procession passed through the central Sofia streets of Georgi S. Rakovski, General Gurko, and Tsar Shishman, ending back at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Square. The event concluded with sermons by Priest Boris Borisov and Priest Methodius Korchev, followed by a musical program on an open-air stage.
At the square, tents were set up offering Orthodox literature, books for parents, and promotional materials.
Text and photos by Plamen Mihaylov / Patriarchate of Bulgaria
