On September 1, 2025, Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Nedelya in Sofia, marking the Feast of the Indiction, the beginning of the Orthodox Ecclesiastical New Year.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Bishop Ioan of Branitzi, first vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, Bishop Isaak of Velbazhd, second vicar, as well as clergy of the cathedral and protodeacons Ivan Petkov and Deyan Korunoski, and deacons Yulian Perikliev, Dimitar Stefanov, and Blagovest Milanov.
The Matins hymns were performed by Dr. Kalin Kirilov, while the cathedral’s male choir, under the direction of Professor Dr. Miroslav Popsavov, gave voice to the Divine Liturgy.
In his pastoral message at the end of the service, Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful to make the new ecclesiastical year a time of prayer, repentance, and mercy:
“Let the upcoming New Ecclesiastical Year be a year of fervent prayer, repentance, and works of mercy. Our faith is not abstract or theoretical but the very principle of our existence. It is authentic only when it is expressed in purity of thought and in active love and compassion toward all people, especially the suffering, oppressed, and hopeless.”
He emphasized the importance of regular church attendance, confession, and Holy Communion:
“Through the Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion, Christ is truly present in us and among us, making us a living God-human community, the people of God. In the Church, divisions are overcome by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit and our goodwill, for we are inseparable members of one Body, branches of one Vine, one family in which Christ is our Firstborn Brother (Romans 8:29). May this New Year be a year of unity and harmony in Christ!”
Following his address, Patriarch Daniel was presented with a basket of flowers on behalf of the cathedral clergy and parish council.
Text by Mihail Taskov; Photos by Vesela Ignatova / Bulgarian Patriarchate
