site.btaEaster Celebrations Held in Bulgaria

Eastern Orthodox Bulgarian Christians celebrated Easter on Sunday across the country and abroad. Easter marks the Resurrection of the Son of God Jesus Christ on the third day after he was crucified [Good Friday] atoning for the sins of mankind. This year's Orthodox and Catholic Easter celebrations coincided. 

Minutes after midnight on Great Saturday, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil proclaimed the resurrection of Christ and blessed the Bulgarian people. This was Daniil's first Easter as Bulgaria's Patriarch. “Christ is risen!”, the Patriarch proclaimed thrice before the people gathered in front of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, followed by the response "Indeed He is Risen!"

Later on Sunday, Patriarch Daniil celebrated a divine Easter service in the metropolitan cathedral church St. Nedelya, where hundreds of lay people had gathered. 

Political leaders also issued Easter greetings on Sunday, including National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, President Rumen Radev, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and leaders of parliamentary forces. 

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) building was illuminated in white on Easter night and will also be illuminated during Holy Week as a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. On the nights before Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the facade of the Bulgarian News Agency building was illuminated in red, as a symbol of the blood shed by Christ on the cross.