Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria presided over a festive Divine Liturgy in Razlog to mark 113 years since the town’s liberation, concelebrating with Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop and local clergy at the Church of the Annunciation.
In his address, the Patriarch said: “Only a people who are truly free can endure five centuries of bondage and rise again. Our identity as Bulgarians is rooted in our Orthodox faith — if we remove faith from our history and culture, almost nothing remains.”
He emphasized that faith and God’s mercy led to Bulgaria’s liberation and urged the faithful to “embody freedom through doing good and walking with God.”
Metropolitan Seraphim thanked the Patriarch for his presence, noting that no Bulgarian Patriarch had previously attended the regional liberation celebrations, and called it “a great honor for our homeland.”
Following the Liturgy, a memorial service and thanksgiving prayer were held, after which Patriarch Daniel met with Mayor Krasimir Gerchev. The day concluded with a festive program, including a performance titled “Razlog is Free! It Became Bulgarian!” and a concert by Desi Dobreva.
