Mater and Thygater, Constantinople and Sofia, meet "in the Holy Chalice" at the place of practice of Saint John of Rilatranslated

With the high presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, the Church of Bulgaria culminates today the anniversary celebrations in honor of Saint John of Rila – 1150 years since his birth and 1080 years since his ascension, where in the homonymous Holy Monastery of the spiritual patron of Bulgaria the two Primates will concelebrate today confirming with the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist the unity of the two Churches.  At this time, a Patriarchal Mass is being held between the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew and the Patriarch of Bulgaria His Excellency Daniel.

In fact, both during the reception of the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Synodal Palace in Sofia and during yesterday's Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky, special reference was made to the ties of the Church of Bulgaria with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which the Patriarch of Bulgaria Mr. Daniel called it "Mother Church", from which the ancestors of the Bulgarians received the Orthodox faith.

In today's co-liturgy, they mentioned, among other things, also after yesterday's Divine Liturgy in which the two Primates attended together in prayer.

His address...