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Patriarch of Bulgaria joined the “Wonderworker of Rila” pilgrimage

August 8, 2026 · 1 min read

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria joined the annual “Wonderworker of Rila” pilgrimage on August 5, climbing the Rila Mountains to meet the participants at the Seven Rila Lakes.

The pilgrims, who had departed on foot from Sofia on August 1, gathered early in the morning near Babreka Lake, situated at an altitude of 2,282 metres.

The annual pilgrimage is dedicated to Saint John of Rila, the patron saint of the Bulgarian people, and attracts hundreds of Orthodox Christians from Bulgaria and abroad.

The route symbolically retraces the transfer of the Saint’s relics in 1469 from Tarnovgrad, through Sofia, to the Rila Monastery. Throughout the journey, services are celebrated and prayers and hymns are offered to God, the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint John of Rila.

Patriarch Daniel, who participated in the pilgrimage for the second time, reached Babreka Lake on foot. In accordance with tradition, a festal service for the Blessing of the Waters was celebrated there.

Bishop Ioan of Branitsa, Bishop Hierotheos of Agathopolis and clergy from Sofia participating in the pilgrimage concelebrated with the Patriarch.

“May your example be a light to all those who are beginning their journey…

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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Sophia Evans

I remember reading about that 1469 relic transfer last year in Bible study. Good to see Patriarch Daniel making the climb again on foot to Babreka Lake. The Blessing of the Waters up there at over 2,000 meters must feel pretty special.

Claudia Wagner

Nice to see that Patriarch Daniel has climbed up to Lake Babreka on foot again. Last year I sang in the choir the very song about the transfer of relics in 1469 that they sing along the way. Here in Munich, such a height with the Wasserweihe would certainly be a challenge, but it sounds really refreshing.