Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel presided over a festive Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Sofia on October 1, marking the church’s patronal feast. During the celebration, he ordained a new priest, honored the parish rector and shared his impressions from his recent visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Economos Vasil Tanev, Stavrophore Economos Angel Yankov, Archpriest Georgi Yankov, rector of the church, and other clergy from Sofia.
Numerous faithful gathered for the celebration, with liturgical hymns performed by the parish choir under the direction of Dimitar Stoyanov.
At the beginning of the service, Patriarch Daniel tonsured Vladimir and Georgi as readers and candle-bearers. During the Divine Liturgy, he ordained Deacon Hristo Hristov to the priesthood, emphasizing the profound responsibility of priestly ministry.
Addressing the newly ordained priest, the Patriarch stressed that the priesthood is a divine gift entrusted to human beings for the salvation of others. He encouraged Father Hristo to preserve his faith, approach every liturgical service with reverence and rely on God’s grace throughout his ministry.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining unity with the diocesan authorities, fostering brotherly relations with fellow clergy and drawing strength from family support.
At the conclusion of the service, Patriarch Daniel conferred the ecclesiastical distinction of Economos upon the parish rector, Father Georgi Yankov, in recognition of his dedication to the church and its various ministries.
Patriarch Daniel Highlights the Mother of God’s Protection and the Importance of Family Prayer
Addressing the congregation on the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Patriarch Daniel recalled the miracle associated with the celebration and spoke about the Mother of God’s continual intercession for humanity.
He emphasized that the Virgin Mary protects believers from adversity, particularly from sin, and serves as an example for parents through her faith, purity and prayer.
Reflecting on the challenges facing contemporary families, the Patriarch urged parents to cultivate a life of repentance and prayer while guiding their children toward the Church.
He acknowledged the difficulties parents encounter in teaching children to pray, respect their elders and develop reverence for God amid the numerous distractions of modern society.
The Patriarch also referred to the beginning of the academic year, the parish Sunday school and the diocesan children’s church choir. He prayed that the Mother of God would strengthen students’ attention, determination and spiritual development as they embark on a new year of learning.
Patriarch Daniel Shares Impressions from Jerusalem and Jordan
During his address, Patriarch Daniel also spoke about his recent six-day visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which concluded on September 30. He conveyed the blessing of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem to the faithful of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Referring to the difficult situation in the Holy Land, he noted that, according to Patriarch Theophilos, the celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross had attracted an exceptionally large number of worshippers for the first time since the outbreak of hostilities in the region.
Despite the difficulties and fears experienced by Christians in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other areas, Patriarch Daniel said he had witnessed vibrant parish communities and a strong spirit of solidarity.
He also highlighted ongoing restoration projects at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, emphasizing the importance of preserving these sacred sites for future generations.
Turning to his visit to Jordan, the Patriarch expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the Jordanian authorities, King Abdullah II and the royal family to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
During his visit, Patriarch Daniel met with King Abdullah II, who reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to protecting the Christian presence in the region and safeguarding Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Patriarch also welcomed archaeological excavations and restoration projects near the site of Christ’s Baptism, as well as the establishment of the first Orthodox university in the area.
He emphasized the importance of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s educational activities in Jordan, noting that it operates 24 schools attended by hundreds of students each, employing more than 800 Christian and Muslim staff members.
According to Patriarch Daniel, Jordan’s Orthodox Christian community, numbering approximately 100,000 people, enjoys considerable respect and maintains strong parish communities despite the challenges facing the wider region.
Reflecting on the spiritual significance of his journey, the Patriarch stressed that visiting the Holy Land and meeting local Christian communities provides an understanding that cannot be gained through news reports alone.
He also recalled the tradition of pilgrimage among previous generations of Bulgarian Christians, who undertook long and demanding journeys to the Holy Land before returning to share their experiences with their communities.
The celebration concluded with a greeting addressed to Patriarch Daniel by the parish rector, Economos Georgi Yankov, on behalf of the clergy and parish council, followed by the traditional chanting of Many Years.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
