On September 14, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrated one of the major Christian feasts—the Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. The solemn service at the Sofia church dedicated to this feast, located in the Lozenets district, was led by Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, as reported by the Sofia Metropolitan's website.

This feast commemorates three significant events: the appearance of the Cross to Emperor Constantine the Great, the discovery of the Holy Cross by Saint Helen in Jerusalem in 326, and its return from Persian captivity.

In his sermon, Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the joy of this day reflects the joy of the apostles, who witnessed the crucified Lord and then the resurrected Savior. "This joy could not be taken away from them," he noted. The Patriarch also recalled the example of the Apostle Peter, who accepted a martyr's death by being crucified upside down, considering himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ.

His Holiness urged the faithful to view the Cross as a spiritual support in the struggle against passions, through prayer and adherence to Christ's commandments. "The Cross, once an instrument of torture, became a symbol of life, hope, and victory over sin after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ," he stated.

In his address, the Patriarch also touched upon the issue of educating the youth in light of the upcoming school year. He reminded the congregation that knowledge without virtue can lead to evil, while knowledge combined with faith and the pursuit of God becomes a blessing for both individuals and society.