Department for External Church Relations
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Bishop Gerasim of Melnik led the Patronal Feast of the Russian Orthodox Church's Metochion in Sofia
DECR Communication Service, 06.12.2024
On December 6, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia (according to the Revised Julian Calendar), the Patronal Feast was celebrated at the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia.
The festive Liturgy at the Church of Saint Nicholas, located at the Patriarchal Representation, was led by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Church. Concelebrating with the hierarch were the head of the Representation, Protopriest Vladimir Tyshchuk, the rector of the Church of Saint Martyr Paraskeva, Stavrophores-Economos Ioan Chikalov, clergy from the Church of the Great Martyr Panteleimon — Archpriest Dimitri Tukhchiev and Priest Serafim Zhelev, Archdeacon Dejan Korunoski from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and Deacon Alexander Morozov from the Church of the Great Martyr Panteleimon, as reported by the Representation's Telegram channel.
During the fervent supplication, prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church and for the preservation of the Church from divisions and schisms.
Among those praying at the service were the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Bulgaria, E.V. Mitrofanova, the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy, V.Yu. Solodkin, political figure Rumen Petkov, and numerous parishioners.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Patriarchal Representation under the direction of Vasilena Chenova-Stefanova.
After the prayer behind the ambo, a moleben to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was conducted in the center of the church.
At the conclusion of the moleben, Bishop Gerasim of Melnik delivered a sermon and congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the occasion of the Patronal Feast.
In his response, Archpriest Vladimir Tyshchuk thanked Bishop Gerasim for leading the festive celebrations and emphasized that "Christian joy cannot remain individual; it always seeks to be shared." As a token of gratitude, the head of the Representation presented the hierarch with an icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Following this, a solemn Polychronion (many years) was proclaimed for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Archpriest Vladimir, the clergy, and all Orthodox Christians.
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020