Balgarianovinite.com The St Stephen Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Istanbul, known as the Iron Church, embodies Bulgaria’s national idea and national unity, Vice President Iliana Iotova said on Saturday during the church’s feast day, celebrated at the invitation of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Turkiye.
A festive liturgy at St Stephen Church was led by Patriarch Daniil, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia. Speaking after the sermon, Iotova said the days of Christ’s Nativity bring faith, light, hope, and a message of peace, understanding and tolerance, values she noted are especially vital amid growing conflicts worldwide.
Iotova described the church as a place that instills a unique spiritual light and energy, symbolizing Bulgarian self-confidence. She said St Stephen was built with faith and a strong will for freedom, independence and statehood, adding that the walls of the church echo a historic affirmation of Bulgarian identity, language, culture and heritage.
She recalled the role of the Bulgarian intelligentsia in Istanbul in the 19th century in advocating freedom, education and national self-determination, and marked the 155th anniversary of the Bulgarian Exarchate by paying tribute to its founders. Iotova thanked the descendants of Bulgarians in Turkiye for preserving national identity, cultural monuments and Orthodox churches in Istanbul and Edirne.
Addressing Patriarch Daniil, Iotova said his presence and that of the Holy Synod is important for the Bulgarian community in Istanbul, for both history and the future. On behalf of the presidency, she presented the Patriarch with a blessed cross, conveying greetings from President Rumen Radev. Vice President: St Stephen Church Embodies Bulgaria’s National Idea and Unity 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-27 13:44:25 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
