Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria called on the faithful to persevere in doing good and to remain steadfast in faith during celebrations marking the feasts of Mid-Pentecost and Saint George at the historic Saint Sofia Church.
Before the solemn Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch emphasized that doing good requires great spiritual effort because humanity bears the wounds of fallen human nature. Recalling the words of Christ, he said that “without Me you can do nothing,” stressing the necessity of God’s grace in every good work.
Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful to follow the example of Saint George, describing him as a young man of high rank in the Roman Empire who remained faithful to Christ despite wealth, power, and persecution. He praised the saint’s courage in denouncing the emperor’s injustice and enduring suffering for the Christian faith.
The Patriarch concelebrated with Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, clergy of the cathedral, and priests and deacons from Sofia.
As part of the celebrations, representative units of all branches of the Bulgarian Armed Forces assembled in the square before the Patriarchal Cathedral, carrying the national tricolor and military battle flags. Present at the ceremonial prayer service were President Iliana Yotova, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, Parliament Speaker Michaela Dotsova, Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, military officials, lawmakers, and other dignitaries.
At the conclusion of the blessing of the waters ceremony, Patriarch Daniel reflected on the ancient Bulgarian tradition of blessing military banners, tracing it back to the First Bulgarian Empire and the reign of Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria. He recalled that the first historically recorded blessing of battle standards took place in 917 before the victorious Battle of Achelous.
The Patriarch noted that the ritual demonstrates the deep trust of Bulgaria’s ancestors in God and in divine justice. He stressed that throughout history Bulgarians sought God’s blessing and assistance in all their endeavors, especially in times of trial and national importance.
Highlighting the unity between Church and state, Patriarch Daniel said that the prayers offered during the ceremony sought divine protection for the Bulgarian army and peace and prosperity for the nation. He added that the sprinkling of the battle flags with holy water serves as a visible sign of God’s blessing and protection over both the Bulgarian people and the servicemen and women who dedicate their lives to military service.
At the end of the ceremony, the Patriarch blessed the military flags and the assembled armed forces with holy water, while the Guard Representative Brass Band and ceremonial military units participated in the solemn celebrations.
Text, photos and video: Angel Karadakov
