With tears in their eyes and heartfelt prayers, hundreds of faithful welcomed the wonderworking myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in Sofia on Friday. The icon has arrived in Bulgaria and will remain in the country until August 19.
A solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the historic Church of St. Sophia in the Bulgarian capital by Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia. Concelebrating were Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Ioan of Branitsa, Bishop Isaac of Velbazhd, Fr. Nektary Yangson, custodian of the icon, together with clergy and deacons from Sofia.
From the early hours of the morning, long lines of worshippers formed inside and around the church, eager to pay their respects to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.
Addressing the visiting clergy who accompanied the icon, Patriarch Daniel expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for blessing the icon’s visit to Bulgaria during the month of August and its pilgrimage to various parts of the country.
“For eighteen years, the Most Holy Theotokos has poured out her mercy upon thousands and millions of Orthodox faithful throughout the Orthodox world,” the Patriarch said.
He also emphasized that Christians should always approach God with faith and sincere prayer, without allowing doubt to overcome them, adding that in difficult times everyone is in need of God’s help and the protection of the Mother of God.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a Blessing of the Waters service was celebrated in accordance with the Church’s Typikon. A procession with the icon then made its way to the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Nedelya, where Patriarch Daniel offered a prayer for the success of the annual “Rila Wonderworker” pilgrimage, which began that day for the seventeenth consecutive year.
The Hawaiian Icon of the Mother of God will remain at St. Nedelya Cathedral for public veneration from August 1 to 5. From August 3 to 5, the icon will remain at the cathedral until 4:00 p.m., after which it will travel with the accompanying delegation to various deaneries of the Diocese of Sofia.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
