Patriarch Daniil to lead Easter liturgy in Sofia

Orthodox Christians are preparing to mark the Resurrection of Christ. Festive Paschal services will be held in churches across the country on Saturday evening.

At the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, the Paschal Midnight Service, followed by Matins and the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, will begin at 23:30 local time. Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil will proclaim the Resurrection of Christ.

'Let us cast aside malice, falsehood and hypocrisy, and welcome the Resurrection of Christ with pure hearts,' said the Patriarch after the Holy Friday service on 10 April at the metropolitan church of St Nedelya.

In Sofia, parts of the public transport network will run until 01:30 on the night of 11–12 April, albeit at longer intervals, the Sofia municipality said.

In Veliko Tarnovo, the Resurrection of Christ will be marked at the Tsarevets fortress. At midnight, dozens of church bells will ring out across the historic city while the Holy Fire will be brought out from the Patriarchal Museum Church of the Ascension of the Lord, as reported by BNR correspondent Zdravka Maslyankova.

In Varna, the service will begin at 23:20 and will be led by Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

Due to the situation in the Middle East, no Bulgarian delegation will travel to Jerusalem this year to bring back the Holy Fire. However, each diocese has places where last year's Holy Fire has been preserved, and it will be distributed from there to churches nationwide.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova