The first International Festival of Church Music “Saint Mary Portaïtissa” has wrapped up in Varna, Bulgaria, bringing together performers of Orthodox sacred music from multiple countries.

Held on August 4 and 5 at the city’s Summer Theatre, the two-day event took place with the blessing of Metropolitan Ioann of Varna and Veliko Preslav, according to the website of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Opening the festival, Metropolitan Ioann said the image of the Portaïtissa Virgin Mary—known in Bulgarian tradition as “Vratarnitsa,” the “Gatekeeper”—symbolizes spiritual protection, hope, and divine care. He stressed the importance of preserving the Orthodox musical tradition and thanked participants and organizers for their contribution to cultural dialogue.

“The Mother of God is always with us. She is the Mother of all humanity and the intercessor for everyone who turns to her in faith in their sorrows, illnesses and trials,” the metropolitan said.

Participants included choirs and singers from Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Georgia, North Macedonia, and Lebanon. On the first evening, the Romanian choir “Tronos”—the official choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest—performed, led by priest Mihail Buca and described as one of Romania’s leading Byzantine-chant ensembles. Also appearing were Lebanese singer Ribale Uehbe, Serbian vocalist Divna Ljubojević, and the Serbian choir “Melodi.”

On the second day, the program featured the Byzantine choir “Melodesos” from the Varna and Veliko Preslav Diocese, the Children’s Choir of the Church of Saint Athanasius in Varna, Romania’s children’s choir “Tronos,” North Macedonian singer Jovana Bogdanoska, and Georgian groups “Salia” and “Ranina.”

Representatives of the clergy, festival organizers, and hundreds of residents and visitors attended the concerts. Among the honored guests was Bishop Makarius of Glavinitsa, vicar bishop to Metropolitan Naoum of Ruse.