Mount Athos: Patriarchal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the 26 Painted Martyrstranslated

Seven hundred and fifty years after the martyrdom of the 26 Martyrs of Zografou, who gave their lives for their faith in Christ, a solemn vigil was held in the Holy Monastery of Zografou on Mount Athos, presided over by His Beatitude the Patriarch of Bulgaria. Daniel. Collaborating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria were the Most Reverend Metropolitans of Nevrokopi Mr. Seraphim, Mr. Grigorios of Vratsis, the Theophilist Bishops of Meleniko Mr. Gerasimos and Mr. Klimis of Lefki.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery, Archimandrite Gabriel, addressed the Blessed Patriarch, once again expressing the joy of the brotherhood to welcome him and celebrate with him the memory of the Holy Martyrs. He emphasized their achievement, zeal, and sincere faith in God, as well as their unwavering commitment to defending the true faith, and compared the attitude of the pagan Roman emperors to that of the totalitarian authorities during the socialist era.

" In modern times, believers were accused of being class enemies and therefore suffered punishments, and some of them were even honored with a martyr's end. The Painters…