Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew took part in a festive Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported.

The service was held as part of celebrations marking the 1,150th anniversary of the birth and the 1,080th anniversary of the repose of St. John of Rila, one of the most venerated saints of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis of the Church of Greece. Hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate concelebrated with him.

Following the service, Patriarch Daniel addressed the congregation, emphasizing that the unity of the Church is a gift of the Holy Spirit, founded on truth and love. Referring to the Apostle Paul's exhortation to believers to maintain unity of mind and purpose, he noted that divisions in the contemporary world also affect the life of the Church.

Patriarch Daniel said that the example of the saints, particularly St. John of Rila, reminds the faithful of the unity of faith and the importance of preserving Church tradition. He expressed hope that the joint prayer would demonstrate that overcoming difficulties and disagreements requires humility, repentance, fraternal communion and fidelity to the teachings handed down by the holy apostles.

According to local media reports, Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Bulgaria to attend celebrations in honor of St. John of Rila, scheduled for October 19 at the Rila Monastery. Before the service in Sofia, both patriarchs spoke to journalists.

Patriarch Bartholomew said that the contemporary world urgently needs peace and unity. He thanked the Bulgarian people for their hospitality and noted that the joint prayer would be dedicated to peace throughout the world and unity among the Churches.

Patriarch Daniel likewise stressed that celebrating together with Patriarch Bartholomew, despite existing disagreements, demonstrates the importance of continuing dialogue and seeking ways to overcome differences rather than deepen divisions.

The gathering in Sofia highlighted the shared commitment of the two patriarchs to prayer, dialogue and the pursuit of greater unity within the Orthodox Christian world.