With great spiritual joy, the Vracheš Monastery dedicated to the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste welcomed the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, together with Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovech, Metropolitan Serafim of Nevrokop, and Bishop Mihail of Konstantia for the monastery’s patronal feast.
According to tradition, the celebration began with an All-Night Vigil. The services were enriched by the hymns of the church choir conducted by Dr. Andrey Kasabov, as well as the choir of the nuns of the holy monastery.
On the following day, March 9, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, presided over by Patriarch Daniel and concelebrated by Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovech, Metropolitan Serafim of Nevrokop, Bishop Mihail of Konstantia, and clergy from various dioceses in Bulgaria, as well as monks from the Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Patriarch Daniel delivered a sermon to the faithful. A service of blessing of water followed in the courtyard of the monastery, during which the faithful were sprinkled with holy water and blessed bread (antidoron) was distributed.
The celebration concluded with a performance by the children’s choir of the monastery, which offered several Orthodox hymns to the guests and pilgrims gathered for the feast.
