Sofia, September 14, 2026
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
His Holiness Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria led a procession through the streets of Sofia on Saturday, September 12, carrying a relic of the Holy Cross, part of two days of celebrations marking the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of Christ.
The festivities began on September 12 with Small Vespers at the Elevation of the Holy Cross church, after which a procession set out for the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, reports the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
Patriarch Daniil led the procession, along with Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, Bishop Ioan of Branitsa, first vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, Bishop Isaac of Velbazhd, second vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, Bishop Mihail of Konstantia, vicar of the Metropolitan of Lovech, and Bishop Melety of Znepole, rector of the Sofia Theological Seminary.
A relic of the Holy Cross of Christ was carried in the procession. Dozens of Christians from Sofia and around the country joined the procession, along with President Iliana Yotova.
The procession arrived at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral shortly before 7 PM, where an All-Night Vigil was then served, led by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik.
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
In his address, Patriarch Daniil said Christians bow before God for all His blessings, and above all because He loved the world so much that He sent His Only-Begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. He said Christ, in coming into the world, took on all the circumstances of human nature and became fully human.
Patriarch Daniil stated that each person can see for themselves that the struggle against evil within us is the hardest struggle, and that the fight against sin is the strongest fight, with the devil as humanity’s greatest enemy.
“On the Cross, the Lord defeated the enemy of human salvation, and this fight is the most important that has been fought on earth, whereby the Lord defeated the original enemy of mankind,” His Holiness said.
The Patriarch thanked the clergy and Orthodox Christians who took part in the procession marking the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross. He stated that just as the procession passed through the streets of the city and sanctified the air, buildings and space through the power of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross, he hoped the Lord would enlighten the minds and hearts of all who live in Sofia and inspire love for God and for one another among the faithful.
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