On the 147th anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman yoke, on March 3, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria led a requiem prayer for all those who fell on the battlefields for the freedom of the Fatherland and a prayer of thanksgiving at the Patriarchal Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.
His Holiness was co-served by Bishop Gerasim of Melnishe, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite John (Peshev), Protosingel of the Sofia Metropolitan Archimandrite John (Peshev), Archpriest Vladimir Tyschuk, rector of the Patriarchal Metochion in Sofia, Icon Neluts Opry, representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and clerics of the Sofia Metropolitan Archdiocese, the metochion's website reports.
At the end of the service, the Primate of the Bulgarian Church noted in his sermon: "The true strength of our people lies precisely in their spirituality and culture, which, in turn, have their basis in our Orthodox faith — faith and trust in God, by whom, according to the Apostle of the Gentiles, we all live and move and exist (Acts. 17:28). This faith has built, united and preserved us as a people for centuries, even in the darkest and most hopeless times, it has strengthened us, and it is the only true guarantee for our present and future, for our existence as God's people. This inspired our ancestors and our Orthodox brothers from near and far abroad, who once came here to achieve our Liberation. May the memory of all known and unknown heroes of Bulgarian freedom be eternal and blessed."