Celebrated Divine Liturgy in Bistrica Monastery "Saint Joachim and Anna"translated
"Following the feast of the Birth of the Most Holy Theotokos, we celebrate the day of her parents – the Righteous Archangels Joachim and Anna. Because of their patience, because of their prayers, because of their hope, because of their unwavering faith, God granted them an extraordinary daughter who was an angel in the flesh and was worthy to bear our Savior Jesus Christ," said Bishop Melentius Gerasim – Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod on the feast of Saints Joachim and Anna.
His Eminence presided over the solemn Divine Liturgy at the Monastery "Saint Joachim and Anna" Bistrica with the blessing of His Beatitude, Archbishop and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil. Bishop Gerasim was assisted by Archimandrite Siluan – Abbot of the Monastery "St. Petka" Bistrica, Protodeacon Ivan Ivanov, and Deacon Ioan-Stoyan Ivanov. Many Orthodox Christians from Bistrica and the region participated in prayer.
In his sermon, Bishop Gerasim spoke about the miraculous life, humility, and faith of the Mother of God and her parents. "Being righteous, her parents fulfilled the law completely – their entire lives they felt punished, persecuted by their fellow citizens in the small town of Nazareth because they had no child... This great patience, this uncomplaining..."
