Patriarch of Bulgaria: God’s Grace transforms and purifies the human heart

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 9, at the historic Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the village of Zheleznitsa, in Sofia’s Pancharevo district.

The service, celebrated on the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, was preceded by the blessing of the renovated church, which dates back to 1870. Patriarch Daniel concelebrated with clergy of the Diocese of Sofia, while numerous faithful from Zheleznitsa and the surrounding area attended the service.

In his homily, the Patriarch reflected on the recent feast of the Transfiguration of Christ and the Gospel account of the healing of the demon-possessed boy, emphasizing that spiritual transformation is a gradual process made possible through divine grace.

“The sanctification of our souls and bodies takes place precisely through the action of God’s grace,” Patriarch Daniel said, noting that healing from sin is neither “formal nor mechanical,” but requires an ongoing spiritual struggle against passions, selfishness, hatred, anger and other sins.

He stressed the importance of repentance, fasting, prayer, confession and participation in the Holy Eucharist, explaining that through these…