Lovech, Bulgaria, April 1, 2020
While a number of hierarchs have been blessing their respective cities and provinces from above on plane and helicopter rides, His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, one of the most authoritative hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, took to the rocky heights overlooking the city to pray for and bless his city and flock.
On Friday, March 24, His Eminence, together with two priests from his diocese, celebrated a moleben for health and prosperity against the coronavirus epidemic on Stratesh hill overlooking Lovech, reports the official site of the Lovech Diocese.
Looking down from above, Met. Gabriel blessed the city with a cross containing a fragment of the true Lifegiving Cross of the Lord and a reliquary containing relics of St. John of Rila, the most beloved Bulgarian saint, and the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, the Hieromartyr Charalampos, and the holy Martyr Tryphon.
Such a moleben will be celebrated every week until Pascha, and longer if necessary, the diocese reports.
A week later, His Eminence visited the children’s ward of the multidisciplinary Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov Hospital in Lovech to make a valuable donation.
On behalf of the Bulgarian Church, the Metropolitan donated 2 computers, a multifunctional xerox machine, and 3 standing sinks with an electric water heater, which the hospital had informed the diocese 2 months ago that it needed.
Altogether, the donation was worth more than $1,100 (2,000 Bulgarian lev). The hospital’s medical staff expressed great gratitude to Met. Gabriel and the entire Bulgarian Church.
