site.btaOrthodox Bulgarian Community in Istanbul Marks Palm Sunday

At the Bulgarian Exarchate in the Sisli district of Istanbul, the community of Orthodox Bulgarians celebrated Palm Sunday, a Christian holiday preceding Easter.

Representatives of the community’s Radost women’s association - the successor to the first association of Bulgarian women in Istanbul from the last century - welcomed guests and presented them with fresh flowers and willow branches.

A church service was held at the Exarchate Church of St. John of Rila by Archimandrite Haralampi Nichev, who provides spiritual care for the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul. The service, which lasted over an hour, was well-attended, and the church was filled with people who lit candles for the holiday.

"Today’s feast commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. People welcomed him with palm branches as a symbol of reverence and joy. In the Bulgarian tradition, palm branches have been replaced with willow branches, which symbolize spring, new life, and rebirth. After entering the city, Jesus Christ healed many sick people. The branches were blessed for good health.  On this day, everyone whose name is associated with plants and flowers celebrates their name day. The message of this day is that goodwill, peace, and prosperity are symbols of grace and God’s blessing," the priest told the congregation.

The service was accompanied by performances by the church choir of the Bulgarian Orthodox community.

Following the church service, lunch was held in the large hall of the Exarchate, organized by the church council of the Bulgarian Exarchate. The meal consisted of fish, in accordance with Christian tradition. The head of the church council, Dimitri Yotef, greeted the Bulgarians of Istanbul on the occasion of the holiday, wishing them health and prosperity, as well as the members of the community celebrating their nameday on Palm Sunday. Together, they cut a large cake prepared especially for Sunday’s celebration.

Yotef also acknowledged and thanked the members of the Bulgarian community for their contribution to preserving the ancient traditions of Bulgarian identity and the Orthodox Christian faith in Istanbul, which they have passed down from generation to generation for many years.

Among the veterans of the Bulgarian community is the conductor of the church choir, Kiryako Lyaze, who shared with BTA the sentiments with which Orthodox Bulgarians in Istanbul celebrate Palm Sunday. “For us, Bulgarians in Istanbul, Palm Sunday is a special holiday because it comes before Christ’s Resurrection. But this holiday marks the end of Lent. According to tradition, we eat fish on this day, and we observe this custom. What do we wish for? Health above all, that there be no sorrow or pain, and that love, happiness, and good fortune accompany our days. Holy Week begins on Monday, during which there will be services in the church in the morning and evening. On Thursday we will be dyeing eggs, and on Saturday night we will celebrate the First Resurrection at St. Stephen’s Church on the shores of the Golden Horn, and on Sunday we will celebrate the Second Resurrection,” he explained.