A Solemn Divine Liturgy in Jerusalem on the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross (According to the Julian Calendar) and the First Peaceful Visit of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil to the Ancient Patriarchatetranslated

On September 27, when according to the Julian calendar the feast of the Ascension of the Holy Cross is celebrated, a Solemn Divine Liturgy was conducted in the Church of the Lord's Tomb by Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos III and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil. On the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, it also marks the culmination of the spiritual celebrations marking the first peaceful visit of His All-Holiness to the boundaries of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

According to tradition in Jerusalem, before the beginning of the divine service, a litany was performed from the building of the Jerusalem Patriarchate to the Church of the Resurrection. Upon entering the church, both prelates bowed before the chrism table and then before the Tomb of Christ. Together with them served metropolitans from the Jerusalem Patriarchate, as well as Metropolitan Seraphim of Neaokrepis, Hieromonk Gerasimus of Melnik – General Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Theophilos of the Haghidimos Monastery, and Protodeacon Dejan Kornoski – part of the Bulgarian Church delegation for the peaceful visit. At the divine service, ten priests from Jerusalem, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania served alongside many Christians who received Holy Communion.

Following the Holy Liturgy, a procession with the Cross was performed. His All-Holiness...