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St. Sophia's Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Chicago Announces Liturgical Schedule for Julytranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

St. Sophia's Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Chicago Announces Liturgical Schedule for July BTA

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Mary Thomas

Thanks for posting this. I see they have a Liturgy on July 20 for the Holy Prophet Elijah – that’s always a lovely service. Does anyone know if they still do the outdoor blessing of water afterwards like they used to?

Екатерина Иванова

Last year I had a friend from Chicago, he just told me that after the Liturgy on Elijah they still take water outside and bless it. It’s a pity that we haven’t had something like this in St. Petersburg for a long time. And the program for July is beautiful, especially on the 20th.

Florin Stan

Yes, on July 20 is the Liturgy for St. Prophet Elijah, beautiful. I also heard that at St. Sophia in Chicago they still take the water out after the service and sanctify it, like in the old days. Here in Iași, we haven't seen anything like this for a long time.

Χρήστος Παππάς

Everyone says it well, and I remember from a long time ago that in Chicago's Hagia Sophia after the service of the Prophet Elias, they take the holy water out and bless it. This year on July 20th it will be nice, I hope they keep it next year as well.

Дмитрий Соловьёв

In Nizhny on Ilya, we also sometimes bless water on the street, if the weather permits. It's nice that they keep the tradition alive in Chicago. And on July 20, I see they have a full program, even vespers.

Красимира Христова

I read the program - on July 20 there is indeed a Liturgy for St. Prophet Elijah and Vespers after that. I am glad that in "St. Sophia" they still take the water outside to sanctify it, as in the old days. Here in Sofia, they rarely do it anymore.

Ი

ირაკლი აბაშიძე

Thanks for sharing. On July 20, St. I see the liturgy of the prophet Elijah and then there is the evening service. It's nice to see that in Chicago they still get water outside and bless it like they used to. In Telavi, they rarely do this in recent years.

Ilie Popa

Yes, at St. Ilia on July 20, the Liturgy always has that true summer air. Here in Bucharest, at the parish in the neighborhood, the water is still consecrated after the service and we take it home in small bottles - it reminds me of my childhood. Do you really not do it at all in Iași anymore?

Viorica Lungu

Yes, on July 20 the Liturgy for St. Prophet Elijah is always beautiful. I read that at St. Sophia in Chicago they still take the water out after the service and sanctify it, like in the old days. Here in Sibiu, at the parish in the neighborhood, something like this is rarely done outside, but we fondly remember our childhood when we took bottles home.

Natalia Wiśniewska

In Białystok, on Elijah Day, they sometimes take water outside after the liturgy, if the weather is good. Nice to see that in Chicago at St. Sofia still do it like before. And the program for July 20 looks solid, including the evening meal.

Florin Matei

Yes, in Timișoara, we used to do the same thing with the holy water of St. Elijah, we took it home in bottles. St. Sophia in Chicago seems to keep the tradition better than our neighborhood parish. Do you still take bottles home from work?

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დავით ბერიძე

Thank you, Irakli, for writing to us from Telavi. There will actually be two services in Chicago on July 20th, morning and evening. With us in Batumi St. On Elijah's day, the water is always blessed outside, it works well at the seaside. Why has this rule changed in Telavi in recent years?

Მ

მაია ჩხეიძე

Thanks David, that's why I remember the Batumi rule - it's always easier to bless the water near the sea. I don't know exactly why it has changed in Telavi in recent years, but there they bless the water in the church yard. Do you often go to Telavi?

Ioana Stan

Yes, I also used to get bottles of water from St. Elias when I was younger, I kept them in the kitchen cupboard. In our parish in Constanța, it is still done, but less often, as if people have become a bit lazy. Do you still have this habit or was it lost when you moved?

Методи Костов

I'm glad they still do it in Chicago. Here in Burgas, they also rarely take out the water, and as a child I remember how we all waited with bottles after the service. Do you often go to St. Sophia or just follow the program?

Maria Lungu

Here in Craiova, at the church in the neighborhood, the water is still consecrated after the Liturgy of St. Elijah and we take it home in small bottles, exactly as you say. It also reminds me of the summer holidays at my grandparents. Is it really not done at all in Iași anymore?

Красимира Колева

I'm glad you also remember those lines with the bottles after the service - I used to wait with the kids too. In Chicago, St. Sophia still does it regularly, especially on major holidays. In Burgas, which church do you go to most often now?

Атанас Николов

I'm glad you also remember those bottles after the service. I go to St. Sophia in Chicago almost every Sunday, especially since I have an early shift. And in Burgas, when was the last time you went to Vodosvet, if it's not a secret?

Иван Атанасов

I'm glad that you also remember those bottles after the service in Burgas. I go to St. Sophia in Chicago almost every Sunday when my shift is in the morning. And which church in Burgas do you go to now, "St. Bogoroditsa"?