Mt. Athos, October 22, 2026
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria began his first visit to Mt. Athos as primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church yesterday, October 21, stopping first in Karyes, the administrative capital of Athos, and then at Iveron Monastery.
The Patriarch is accompanied by four hierarchs of the Bulgarian Church, including His Grace Bishop Kliment of Levski, vicar of the Metropolitan of the USA, Canada and Australia, who was himself an Athonite monk before his consecration to the episcopacy.
Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
In Karyes, the Patriarch was received by Elder George of Vatopedi Monastery, the Protos of Mt. Athos, and by the Sacred Community, the peninsula’s governing body, which is made up of representatives of its 20 monasteries, reports the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
A prayer service was celebrated in the Protaton, the Church of the Dormition, after which Patriarch Daniil and the clergy venerated the wonderworking Axion Estin Icon of the Mother of God.
His Holiness thanked his hosts for the warm welcome and said he was moved to be visiting Athos for the first time as Patriarch. He pointed to the centuries-old bonds between Bulgaria and the Holy Mountain, especially the many pilgrims and benefactors who support its monasteries.
Later, to the sound of chanting and bells, Patriarch Daniil was welcomed at Iveron Monastery, home to the wonderworking Portaitissa (Gatekeeper) Icon of the Mother of God, before which he prayed for the whole Bulgarian people.
A copy of the icon is kept at Rozhen Monastery in the Diocese of Nevrokop, where Patriarch Daniil served from 2004 to 2011 as hieromonk, archimandrite, and then as Bishop of Dragovitia, vicar of the Metropolitan of Nevrokop.
Iveron’s abbot, Archimandrite Nathanael, received the Patriarch and the clergy with him and gave him a copy of the Portaitissa Icon. Patriarch Daniil said he spent seven years of his ministry at Rozhen, a former dependency of Iveron, so in a sense he and the Iveron brotherhood are spiritual brothers. The icon, he noted, has been at the monastery since the 18th century and has helped thousands of believers.
Venerating the Portaitissa Icon. Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
Patriarch Daniil is on Athos at the invitation of the brotherhood of the Bulgarian Zographou Monastery, where he will lead the All-Night Vigil and festal Divine Liturgy for the feast of the 26 Zographou Martyrs.
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