Patriarch Daniil Leads Liturgy at St Stephen Church in Istanbul on Feast Day

UPDATED Patriarch Daniil Leads Liturgy at St Stephen Church in Istanbul on Feast Day

Yoanna Vodenova, Emanuel Smarkov

Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil celebrates a liturgy at the Bulgarian St Stephen Church, Istanbul, December 27, 2025 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Istanbul, Turkiye,

27.12.2025 17:06 | UPDATED 27.12.2025 21:50

(BTA)

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, Dimitri 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.

Later on Saturday, Patriarch Daniil visited the local community of Orthodox Bulgarians at the Church of St John of Rila at the Bulgarian Exarchate in the city. The Patriarch warmly addressed the gathering and as a sign of gratitude to the Bulgarian community, presented the church with a relic of Saint Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo.

Theology professor Ivan Zhelev, former head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, explained in an interview with BTA that a particularly strong impression was made by the emphasis Patriarch Daniil placed in his messages on spirituality and the spiritual message of the Christian faith. This visit is different, Zhelev explained, as the Patriarch “is not only fulfilling a protocol obligation, known as a peaceful visit, dedicated to peace between Churches and among people, but also visiting the Bulgarian community.”

/YV/