Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria attends divine service at the Moscow church of “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God

On 27 April 2013, the Saturday before Palm Sunday, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), celebrated All-Night Vigil at the Moscow church of “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God, Bolshaya Ordynka Street.

Concelebrating were archimandrite Filipp (Vasiltsev), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Bulgaria; archimandrite Teoctist (Dimitrov), representative of the Patriarch of Bulgaria to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; hegumen Pyotr (Yeremeyev), abbot of St. Peter’s stavropegic monastery; archimandrite Isaac (Bojadziysky) and hieromonk Gerasim (Georgiev); ordained DECR staff members and clerics of the church.

Praying at the service was Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria who arrived in Moscow at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Prayers were offered up for health and prosperity of His Majesty and of all Bulgarian people.

After the service, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated all those present in the church on the feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem and greeted the high guests with the words: ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ He presented Tsar Simeon with a “Joy to All the Afflicted” icon of the Mother of God.

Metropolitan Hilarion gave a dinner in honour of Tsar Simeon of Bulgaria at the parish house.

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Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria attends divine service at the Moscow church of “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons