Bulgarian Patriarch visits St. Panteleimon Church in Knyazhevo attached to Russian Church’s Metochion

DECR Communication Service, 29/07/2026

On 27^th July 2026, commemoration day of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon according to the Revised Julian Calendar, the Church of St. Panteleimon in Knyazhevo, Bulgaria, celebrated its patronal feast.

The church, built by Russian emigrants in 1923, had functioned as a home chapel of the Russian Union of Invalids in Bulgaria until 1944. Along with other Russian churches and monasteries in the territory of Bulgaria, it was transferred by the Russian Orthodox Church to the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in 1953. In 1974, it became attached to the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia, while remaining a church of the Sofia Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

On the eve of the feast day, Bishop Ioan of Branitsa, First Vicar of the Metropolis of Sofia, celebrated Great Vespers in the Church of St. Panteleimon in concelebration with local clerics – Ikonom Dmitry Tukhchiyev, Priest Serafim Zhelev and Deacon Alexander Morozov.

Praying in the altar was His Holiness Daniil, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia. It was His Holiness’s first visit to the church in Knyazhevo, reports the Metochion’s website.

On 27^th July, Ikonom Dmitry Tukhchiyev celebrated Matins in St. Panteleimon Church. Officiating at the Divine Liturgy that followed was Archpriest Vladimir Tyshchuk, Rector of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia. Among his concelebrants were Ikonom Dmitry Tukhchiyev, Priest Serafim Zhelev and Deacon Alexander Morozov.

After the Prayer Behind the Ambo, prayers of praise were offered to the Great Martyr Panteleimon.

Archpriest Vladimir Tyshchuk delivered a sermon on the feast day.

On behalf of the clergy and parishioners, Ikonom Dmitry Tukhchiyev extended warm birthday greetings to Father Vladimir and presented him with an icon. “Many Years” were sung to the Metochion rector.

Print publication

Bulgarian Patriarch visits St. Panteleimon Church in Knyazhevo attached to Russian Church’s Metochion

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons