A Presanctified Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral by Protopresbyter Antoniy Milushev and Protodeacon Deyan Korunoski.
After the Liturgy, Patriarch Daniel blessed the water, sprinkled with holy water the vessels and ingredients for the preparation of the Holy Chrism, and poured some of the holy water into the Chrism cauldron. The Patriarch then read the first passage of the designated Gospel reading. Throughout the preparation of the Holy Chrism, the priests continuously read from the Holy Gospel and, according to their ecclesiastical rank, stir the kettle containing the mixture.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were the following hierarchs: Bishop Gerasimos of Melnik, Secretary General of the Holy Synod; Bishop Tikhon of Tiberioupolis, Patriarchal Vicar; Bishop Meletios of Znepol, Rector of the Sofia Theological Seminary; and Bishop Isaak of Velbazhd, Auxiliary Bishop to the Metropolitan of Sofia. Also present were Archimandrite Ioannis, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Sofia, the clergy of the Cathedral, priests from the capital and Protodeacon Deyan Korunoski.
“Autocephalous Churches – those that are administratively independent – have the right to prepare Holy Chrism, and this is one of the signs of their autonomy and self-government,” Patriarch Daniel told journalists. He further explained, “Holy Chrism is used in the sacrament of Chrismation. After its preparation, it will be sanctified, and on Holy Thursday the Holy Synod will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, during which special prayers will be said. The sanctified Chrism is then used in the Chrismation, and through the act of sanctification it is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is not a symbolic act; it is a vital expression of the life of the Church, through which divine grace is imparted to the faithful”.
