Balgarianovinite.com Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Patriarch Daniil led a festive liturgy at the Bulgarian Orthodox St Stephen Church in Istanbul on Saturday, the feast day of St Stephen the Protomartyr, during his first peaceful visit to the city.
In his sermon, Patriarch Daniil said the Iron Church is a lasting reminder that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Bulgarian Patriarchate remain united at their core despite difficult periods in the past. He stressed that Christian life calls believers to faithful service in the present, without forgetting history but without living in it, and noted that St Stephen Church symbolizes the Bulgarian people’s aspirations for dignity, freedom and both ecclesiastical and state independence.
The liturgy was attended by members of the Bulgarian community in Istanbul and official guests. Speaking after the service, Dimitar Yotef, Chair of the Boards of the Foundation of the Orthodox Churches of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul and the Foundation of the Bulgarian Church St George in Edirne, said the feast day is of special importance to the community. He thanked Patriarch Daniil for being with them and wished him health and a peaceful and blessed 2026, presenting him with a pastoral staff.
Vice President Iliana Iotova said the Iron Church embodies Bulgaria’s national idea and national unity. She recalled the role of the Bulgarian intelligentsia in 19th-century Istanbul in the struggle for freedom, education and statehood and marked the 155th anniversary of the Bulgarian Exarchate as 155 years of Bulgarian statehood. Iotova stressed that the message of peace, tolerance and understanding should guide society beyond the Christmas season.
On behalf of the presidency, Iotova presented Patriarch Daniil with a blessed cross, conveying greetings from President Rumen Radev, and said the presence of the Patriarch and the Holy Synod affirms support for the Bulgarian community in Istanbul, both for its history and its future. Patriarch Daniil Leads Liturgy at St Stephen Church in Istanbul on Feast Day 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-27 16:48:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
