His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria arrived in the Holy Land on September 25, 2026. The head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), and the Mission's monks attended the solemn meeting of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The meeting began at Jerusalem's Jaffa Gate. The delegation, which included Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop and Bishop Gerasim of Melnishe, proceeded to the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Here His Holiness Patriarch Daniel was greeted by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem. Then the Primates went to the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, where they performed a prayer service and worshiped the Holy Sepulchre.
At a reception in the Great Throne Room of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus presented the Primate of the Bulgarian Church with the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, First Class. The bishops who accompanied him were also awarded church awards. His Holiness Patriarch Daniel thanked for the honor and warm welcome. At the end, memorable gifts were exchanged.
On September 26, the Bulgarian Patriarch visited the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Gethsemane, which is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Russian Russian Orthodox Delegation was met by Archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev) also participated in the meeting.
His Holiness got acquainted with the history of the temple, worshiped its shrines and the relics of the Holy Martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara. The Primate of the Bulgarian Church addressed the faithful with a word of edification and thanked them for the reception.
On September 27, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, Patriarchs Theophilus of Jerusalem and Daniel of Bulgaria celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Bishops and clergy concelebrated with them. Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev) and Deacon Makary Petukhov participated in the divine service from the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission.
The clergy of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, the sisters of the Gornensky Convent, pilgrims from Russia and Bulgaria, and representatives of local Orthodox communities prayed during the Liturgy. Liturgical hymns were performed by the singers of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood.