His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria celebrated his first name day as Patriarch on Wednesday, coinciding with the feast of St. Daniel the Stylite, following his election earlier this year.
Hierarchs from the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church joined their Primate at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Kyriaki (Nedelya) in Sofia, where the Divine Liturgy was celebrated.
The service was attended by His Majesty King Simeon II, who recited the Creed, His Royal Highness Prince Boris of Tarnovo, clergy, monks, nuns, and numerous Orthodox Christians.
Messages of Congratulations
After the service, Metropolitan Arseny of Sliven delivered warm congratulations on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Following the liturgy, a private reception was held, at which state officials and representatives of sister Orthodox Churches extended their congratulations.
Father Neluțu Oprea, the Romanian Orthodox Church’s representative in Bulgaria, presented Patriarch Daniil with a walking stick and conveyed a heartfelt message from Patriarch Daniel of Romania.
On behalf of the entire Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, its clergy, and its faithful, Patriarch Daniel wished Patriarch Daniil good health and divine assistance in his pastoral and missionary endeavours.
Participants and Background
The Sofia Metropolis auxiliary bishops and Dr. Ivaylo Naydenov, Dean of the Faculty of Theology in Sofia attended the reception.
Patriarch Daniil entered monasticism in 1997 and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in 2006. He was consecrated as a bishop in 2008 and became an auxiliary bishop of the Bulgarian Diocese for America, Canada, and Australia in 2011.
In 2018, he was elected Metropolitan of Vidin.
Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin was elected Patriarch of Bulgaria on June 30, 2024, and enthroned the same day.
Photo: Patriarchate of Bulgaria / Angel Karadakov
