Istanbul, Turkiye, Dec 27 (BTA/GNA) – 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.
GNA/BTA