Bulgarian Patriarch welcomed to the Holy Land by an assembly of hierarchs and clergymen including head of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission

DECR Communication Service, 26/09/2026

On 25^th September 2026, the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Daniil, arrived in the Holy Land on an irenic visit. His Holiness was accompanied by Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop, Bishop Gerasim of Melnik and other officials.

Hierarchs and clergymen of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches and heads of other Christian confessions met the guests at the Jaffa Gate. After that, the Bulgarian delegation proceeded to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem met His Holiness Patriarch Daniil at the building of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The two Primates went inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where they celebrated a prayer service and venerated the Tomb of Christ.

Among those who welcomed the Bulgarian Patriarch to the Holy Land were Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and the Mission clergy – Hieromonk Filofei (Artyushin), Archpriest Vladimir Chernyshov and Hieromonk Pyotr (Borodulin), website of the Russia Ecclesiastical Mission reports.

After the prayer service, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos invited the delegation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to the Great Throne Hall of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. There, he presented His Holiness Patriarch Daniil with the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, 1^st class. The hierarchs accompanying the Primate of the Bulgarian Church also received high church decorations.

His Holiness Patriarch Daniil thanked His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos for the honour and warm welcome. At the conclusion of the official reception, the two Primates exchanged gifts.

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Bulgarian Patriarch welcomed to the Holy Land by an assembly of hierarchs and clergymen including head of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons