Bulgarian Orthodox Church

On November 21, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, a day honored in Bulgaria as the Day of the Christian Family and Christian Youth. This celebration is among the 12 major Christian holidays observed by both the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

On November 8, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors Saint Michael the Archangel, a celebration known among Bulgarians as Archangelovden. According to Orthodox tradition, Saint Michael is one of the seven supreme angels who stand eternally before God's throne.

Today, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates three saints, making it a special name day for those named Zoritsa, Zornitsa, Zorka, and Zoran. Among the celebrated saints is St. King Stefan Milutin, whose holy relics have been housed at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Great Martyr Nedelya in Sofia for over five centuries.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks today the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a day known in Bulgaria as "Krastovden" or the Day of the Cross.

Three-quarters of Bulgarians identify as Orthodox, but less than two-thirds express belief in God. This disparity between identifying as Orthodox and believing in God stems from the fact that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is viewed not only as a religious body but also as a historical institution intertwined with Bulgarian society and statehood, contributing to the national identity.

The Bulgarian Patriarch has joined an initiative by church leaders who support the Moscow Patriarchate's stance on the non-recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Alongside Patriarch Daniil, the Antiochian Patriarch John and Georgian Patriarch Ilia also participated.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is honoring the Dormition of St. John of Rila, known as the Wondermaker and regarded as the spiritual guardian of the Bulgarian people. St. John of Rila, the most cherished native saint, lived during the ninth and tenth centuries. His life as a hermit in the Rila Mountains serves as an example of spiritual excellence.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is observing the Transfiguration of the Lord with solemn services today. This holiday commemorates a pivotal event in Christ's earthly life, when He revealed His divine glory to three of His disciples before His suffering and crucifixion.

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has issued a statement condemning the opening ceremony of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games in Paris, which took place on Friday night. The Synod criticized the event, describing it as a source of embarrassment, seduction, and offense to Christendom.

The day following his election as Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Sofia, Daniil presided over his inaugural liturgy as the church's new leader. Alongside metropolitans of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniil underscored the church's role in fostering unity among its followers.