Saint John of Rila

Ecumenical Patriarch describes St John of Rila as ‘a golden coin bearing God’s imprint’

“St John himself is a golden coin bearing God’s imprint,” His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said on Monday at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, where he concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria. Referring to the saint’s image on Bulgarian currency, Patriarch Bartholomew drew on a saying attributed to St Ignatius the God-Bearer…

Oct 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Sofia: True faith seeks communion and lives in unity

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I delivered a message on Sunday at St Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, where he joined Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria for the Divine Liturgy. “True faith seeks communion, is confirmed through encounter and lives in unity. This is precisely what we are doing today: we visit one another, listen…

Oct 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniil welcomes Ecumenical Patriarch to Bulgaria, calls for stronger Orthodox unity

Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Sunday at St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, emphasising the importance of unity in the Orthodox faith and the spiritual legacy of St John of Rila. The Ecumenical Patriarch visited Bulgaria to take part in celebrations marking 1,150 years since the birth of…

Oct 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch to join Bulgaria’s celebrations marking 1,150 years since St John of Rila’s birth

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church will honour St John of Rila with a series of events in Sofia and at Rila Monastery from 17 to 19 October, marking 1,150 years since his birth and 1,080 years since his repose. The programme begins on Saturday at 5:00 pm, when His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will be…

Oct 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

St John of Rila honoured 1,080 years after his repose, Bulgarian Patriarch calls him ‘source of hope’

Saint John of Rila was commemorated on Wednesday at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, marking 1,080 years since his repose in the Lord. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church highlighted the saint’s spiritual legacy, describing him as “a source of hope, spiritual help, an example and a guide for our…

Aug 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Bulgaria for feast of St John of Rila

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will visit Bulgaria on 19 October for the feast of St John of Rila. The announcement was made on Friday during the Service of Supplication to the Mother of God held at the Church of St John of Rila of the Bulgarian community in Constantinople. The visit will take…

Aug 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu