Orthodox Christians in the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora gathered this week to venerate the relics of St. Clement of Ohrid, as the St ara Zagora Diocese marked a series of major ecclesiastical anniversaries.

The central event of the celebrations was the arrival of the relics of St. Clement’s head from the Monastery of St. John the Baptist near Veria, Greece. The relic was solemnly received on October 4 by Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora and carried in a procession to the city’s Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, where a festive vespers service was held.

Clergy, bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and worshippers took part in the procession. The faithful were given an opportunity to venerate the relic and pray for health and well-being.

The celebrations coincide with several important dates for the Stara Zagora Diocese. Among them is the 155th anniversary of the diocese’s establishment in 2026, as well as Stara Zagora’s city day, celebrated on October 5. Prayer services and processions were also held at churches across the city.

The celebrations culminated on October 7 with a Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, presided over by Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniel. The visit marked his first trip to the Stara Zagora Diocese since his election as primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Hierarchs from the Bulgarian and other Orthodox Churches concelebrated the service.

In his address, Patriarch Daniel said that amid social and geopolitical divisions, the Church should remind people of the unity of Christians in faith and love. He described the arrival of St. Clement’s relics as a source of spiritual joy and a blessing for the faithful.

The patriarch also said the anniversary celebrations were not only an opportunity to honor prominent hierarchs of the past, but also demonstrated the Church’s continuing connection with the history and present life of Stara Zagora.

St. Clement of Ohrid holds a particularly important place in the history of the Bulgarian Church. A disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodius, he was one of the principal missionaries and educators of the Slavs and became the first bishop to conduct his ministry in the Bulgarian language. His work contributed to the spread of Christianity, liturgical life and literary culture among the Bulgarian people.