Bulgaria's Varna will host International Festival of Orthodox Church Music

On 4 and 5 August, the Summer Theatre in the Black Sea city of Varna will host the first edition of the St Mary Portaitissa International Festival of Orthodox Church Music.

The event will bring together some of the most distinguished performers of Orthodox sacred music from Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, North Macedonia, Georgia and Lebanon.

The festival is named Saint Mary Portaitissa in honour of the Most Holy Theotokos, the heavenly patron and protector of Varna. Her Portaitissa ("Keeper of the Gates") icon symbolises spiritual protection, hope and the hospitality with which the city welcomes its guests and participants.

Both concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free, the Varna and Veliki Preslav Holy Metropolis has announced.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova