Patriarchal Collector at the Holy Monastery of Agios Ioannis of Rilatranslated

The Holy Monastery of Rila was the focus of the spiritual celebrations on the occasion of the 1150th anniversary of the birth and the 1080th anniversary of the ascension of Saint John of Rila. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, the official guest at the celebrations was His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, who together with His Beatitude Patriarch of Bulgaria Mr. Daniel, performed the solemn Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast of Saint John.

Early in the morning, to the sound of bells and hymns, the two Patriarchs were received in the Holy Monastery. Upon entering the cathedral, they worshiped the holy relics of Saint John of Rila, and then celebrated the solemn Divine Liturgy.

The Reverend Metropolitans of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Mr. Barnabas, Mr. Gabriel Lovets, Mr. Theodore of Seleucia, Mr. Ioannis of Varna and Megali Preslava, Mr. Seraphim of Nevrokopi, Mr. Arsenios Sliven, and the Theophilist Bishops of Christoupolis, collaborated with the two Patriarchs. Emmanuel, Mr. Gerasimos of Melenikos, Mr. Evlogios of Hadrianoupolis, Mr. Polykarpos of Lefkoupolis, Mr. Ierotheos of Agathoupolis, Mr. Ioannis of Branitsa, Mr. Velevousdiou...