Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria jointly celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on September 27, marking the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross according to the Julian calendar.

The service was the central event of Patriarch Daniel’s first peaceful visit to Jerusalem. Hierarchs and clergy from the Jerusalem and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches took part, alongside clergy from Greece and Romania. Pilgrims from Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia and other countries also attended.

Before the liturgy, the patriarchs led a procession from the headquarters of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to the Church of the Resurrection. They venerated the Stone of Anointing and the Holy Sepulchre before the service began.

Following the liturgy, another procession was held with a cross containing particles of the Cross of Christ. The procession proceeded to the site traditionally associated with the discovery of the Cross by Empress Helena, then continued around the Aedicule, the chapel built over the Holy Sepulchre, before concluding at Golgotha.

In his address, Patriarch Theophilos highlighted the spiritual significance of the feast and called for remembrance of Christianity’s message of peace and reconciliation. He also conveyed Jerusalem’s blessing to the Bulgarian people through Patriarch Daniel.

Patriarch Daniel emphasized the centuries-old ties between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He noted that Bulgarian monks lived and served in Jerusalem as early as the 16th to 18th centuries, and that a Bulgarian chapel once operated in one of the city’s churches, where services were conducted in Church Slavonic.

The Bulgarian patriarch also drew attention to the situation of Christians in the Middle East. Against the backdrop of conflicts and armed confrontations, he said, Christian communities across the region are facing serious challenges and declining numbers.

The joint celebration underscored the historic links between the two Orthodox Churches while placing particular emphasis on Christian unity, peace and the preservation of Christian communities in the Middle East.