Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil led the celebrations at the Metochion on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the canonization of Saint Seraphim of Boguchar

DECR Communications Service, 04.02.2026.

On February 3, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Metochion of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ in Sofia on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the glorification of Saint Seraphim of Boguchar, the wonderworker of Sofia.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Bulgarian Church were: Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod; Bishop Ioann of Branitsa, First Vicar of the Sofia Metropolis; Archpriest Vladimir Tyshchuk, Rector of the Metochion; the spiritual overseer of the Sofia Metropolis and Rector of the Church of Saint Sophia, the Wisdom of God, Stavrophore Economos Kiril Didov; the Rector of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva, Stavrophore Economos Yoan Chikalov; the Rector of the rotunda church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer, Economos Yoan Kukov; cleric of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, Archpriest Dimitry Tukhchiev; Protodacon Ivan Petkov; and Deacon Alexander Morozov.

Praying at the service were: His Majesty Simeon II Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Tsar of the Bulgarians; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Bulgaria, E.V. Mitrofanova; First Secretary of the Embassy V.Yu. Solodkin; Director of the Moscow House in Sofia B.A. Gromov; Chairman of the ABV Party R. Petkov; embassy staff; and numerous faithful.

Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Daniil performed the tonsure to the rank of reader of a staff member of the Metochion, Feofan Pavlov.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir of the Patriarchal Metochion under the direction of choirmaster Vasilena Chenova-Stefanova.

According to tradition, at the Divine Liturgy the Symbol of Faith was read by Tsar Simeon II.

After the Prayer Behind the Ambo, His Holiness Patriarch Daniil elevated Archpriest Dimitry to the rank of economos.

At the conclusion of the service, festive messages dedicated to the jubilee date were proclaimed. His Holiness Patriarch Daniil read his Message, after which the Rector of the Metochion read the Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. The Primate of the Bulgarian Church then congratulated all those praying on the feast and presented the Rector of the Metochion with an ornamented cross as a gift. In turn, Archpriest Vladimir thanked His Holiness for the festive divine service and, on behalf of the clergy and parishioners, presented an icon as a gift.

After the thanksgiving prayers, His Holiness Patriarch Daniil served a moleben to Saint Seraphim in the crypt of the church.

Following the moleben, His Holiness the Patriarch, the concelebrating hierarchs and clergy, guests, and active parishioners were invited to a festive meal, after which commemorative calendars and souvenirs were presented to all.

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Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil led the celebrations at the Metochion on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the canonization of Saint Seraphim of Boguchar

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons