A solemn Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the commemoration of St Basil the Great was celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky, presided over by Patriarch Daniel of Bulgria. Concelebrating with him were Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Yoan of Branitsa, first vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, and clergy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
In his address, Patriarch Daniel stressed that Christian witness is “communal, conciliar, ecclesial,” calling the faithful to live as one Church community and to cultivate true ecclesial consciousness as “inseparable” members of the one Body of Christ, where each contributes according to their gifts.
Speaking to the media before the service, the Patriarch highlighted freedom as a great gift from God, urging believers in the new year to grow “in the knowledge of the truth,” and to seek a life enriched by faith, mercy, and love. He prayed that 2026 would be “peaceful, healthy, [and] blessed,” noting that a year filled with God’s blessings is inseparable from the pursuit of Christ’s virtues.
At the end of the Liturgy, Patriarch Daniel drew attention to the commemoration in 2026 of 1080 years since the repose of St John of Rila, calling him a great intercessor and “God’s gift” to the Bulgarian people, and praising his enduring example of repentance, ascetic struggle, and steadfastness.
