On August 18, His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrose of Dorostol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reposed in the Lord at the age of 78 after becoming infected with the coronavirus.
On Saturday, September 26, hierarchs of both the Bulgarian and Romanian Churches came together at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Silistra, Bulgaria, to commemorate Met. Ambrose on his 40th day and to pray for the repose of his soul.
On this day, a memorial Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, who is temporarily governing the Dorostol Diocese until a new bishop is installed, together with Metropolitan Naum of Ruse of the Bulgarian Church, Bishop Visarion of Tulcea of the Romanian Church, and a number of Bulgarian and Romanian clergy, reports the Bulgarian Patriarchate, quoted by OrthoChristian.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a panikhida was served, with the participation of Archbishop Teodosije of Tomis of the Romanian Church. Following the memorial service, Met. Anthony spoke of Met. Ambrose’s ministry in the Dorostol Diocese, and called on everyone to continue praying for him, saying: “In such moments, prayer is the spiritual dew that waters the soul on its way to the eternal habitations!”
Abp. Teodosije also addressed the gathered crowd, emphasizing that the Diocese of Dorostol, which directly borders Romania, is a spiritual bridge between the Bulgarian and Romanian Local Churches. He assured that he would always remember Met. Ambrose with great love and respect and commemorate him at every Divine Liturgy.
The hierarchs, clergy, and faithful then processed from the cathedral to Met. Ambrose’s grave, where another panikhida was served.
Photo courtesy of MBS News
