Balgarianovinite.com Figures such as St. John of Rila and Hieromonk Neofit Rilski are a gift from God and a source of honour and pride for the Bulgarian people, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil said on Thursday.
He was speaking at the opening in Sofia of the first event marking 1,080 years since St. John of Rila’s death and 1,150 years since his birth.
The celebration opened with St. John of Rila and Hieromonk Neofit Rilski, Pillars of Bulgarian Spirituality, a themed performance staged at the Bulgarian Army Theatre. The production was written and directed by Silvia Terzieva, with choreography by Associate Professor Georgi Garov of South-West University Neofit Rilski, music by student Georgi Georgiev from the Electronic Technologies in Music programme, costumes by Senior Lecturer Maria Onteva of the same university, and Chief Assistant Professor Rositsa Obreshkova serving as assistant director.
“Alongside all other faithful bearers, guardians and exponents of our Orthodox faith, St. John of Rila and Neofit Rilski remain our spiritual guides to this day, even in these spiritually troubled times, when notions of good and evil, life and death, freedom and truth are more blurred than ever,” Daniil said.
Actor Andrash Konchaliev, who hosted the presentation, said the production formed part of nationwide commemorative events held with the blessing of the Holy Synod and Daniil.
Organizers read aloud a greeting message from President Iliana Iotova, and guests included former President Georgi Parvanov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences President Evelina Slavcheva, and the mayors of Gotse Delchev and Bansko. Patriarch Daniil Marks St. John of Rila Jubilee with Tribute to Bulgarian Spirituality 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-02 19:28:57 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