site.btaDivine Liturgy in Bulgarian to Be Held at Russian Orthodox Church in Bremen

A Divine Liturgy in Bulgarian is to be held in the German city of Bremen later on Saturday, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church community Sts Cyril and Methodius in Hamburg said. The service will take place at the Russian Orthodox Church in Bremen.

The church community explained that they are beginning July by commemorating St John of Rila the Miracle Worker, venerated by the Orthodox Church on July 1. This is the date marking both the return of the saint's relics from Tarnovo to the Rila Monastery and the remembrance of Sts Cosmas and Damian of Rome, whose relics arrived in Bremen in the tenth century. In honour of these saints, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Russian Orthodox Church.

An invitation to the service was also shared online by the Bulgarian Orthodox initiative Sts Cosmas and Damian, Bremen. Subdeacon Sotir addressed the faithful, noting that the Orthodox Church recently marked the Sunday of All Bulgarian Saints, and the The Synaxis of the Glorious and All-Praiseworthy Twelve Apostles of Christ. He highlighted that these commemorations invite everyone to participate more deeply in the Christian community.

Sotir went on to say that the beginning of July is dedicated not only to the return of the relics of St John of Rila but also to the veneration of Sts Cosmas and Damian as healers and models of compassion. All are invited to share in the quiet joy of the liturgy, to bring Christ’s peace into their homes, and to carry this sense of spiritual unity into the wider world. He, together with Father Yakov, extended their warm greetings to the community, wishing everyone peace and love.