The 1,080th anniversary of the Dormition of St. John of Rila the Wonderworker was solemnly celebrated at the Rila Monastery, with Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel presiding over the Divine Liturgy and highlighting the saint’s enduring role as a source of unity, hope and spiritual strength for the Bulgarian people.
The celebrations began on August 18 with an All-Night Vigil, preceded by the reception of the wonderworking Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The icon was placed in the center of the monastery’s main church for the veneration of the numerous pilgrims.
On the feast day, Patriarch Daniel presided over the Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Metropolitan Nathanael, Metropolitan Gregory, Metropolitan Seraphim and other hierarchs and clergy.
In his homily, the Bulgarian Patriarch emphasized that 1,080 years after St. John’s passing from earthly to eternal life, the saint remains a spiritual authority and intercessor for generations of Orthodox Christians.
“St. John of Rila is a unifier, a center of unity for our entire people. He is a source of hope and spiritual help, an example and a guide for our lives,” Patriarch Daniel said.
He recalled that Rila Monastery remained a spiritual center throughout periods of Byzantine and Ottoman rule and during the era of militant atheism. According to the Patriarch, devotion to St. John helped sustain the Bulgarian people through historical trials, strengthening their faith and hope in God.
Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful to follow the saint’s example through repentance, prayer, faithfulness to Christ and patience, stressing that the grace associated with St. John’s intercession continues to be experienced today.
The Patriarch also thanked the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, and Fr. Nectarios Yangson, custodian of the Hawaiian Iveron Icon, for making its pilgrimage through Bulgaria possible.
The celebrations were described by Bishop Evlogiy of Adrianople, Abbot of Rila Monastery, as a “Pan-Orthodox celebration,” bringing together hierarchs and clergy from Bulgaria and abroad.
The Hawaiian Icon remained at Rila Monastery for veneration until the evening, when it departed for Sofia, the final stop of its visit to Bulgaria before returning to Hawaii.
Source and photos: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
