site.btaPatriarch Daniil Leads Divine Liturgy, Thanksgiving Prayer Service to Mark 148th Anniversary of Sofia's Liberation

Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil led divine liturgy on Saturday at the St Nedelya Orthodox Cathedral, followed by a thanksgiving prayer service to mark the 148th anniversary of the Liberation of Sofia.

In his address, he noted that the Bulgarian people preserved their Orthodox faith and spiritual identity during the five centuries of Ottoman rule, with many sacrificing their lives to defend their faith, families and dignity.

The Patriarch expressed gratitude to the Russian army for the Liberation of Bulgaria, recalling "the self-sacrifice of Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian and other warriors who took part in the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation." He said that "the Bulgarian people actively supported the liberating forces, including during the crossing of the Balkan Mountains in severe winter conditions."

Patriarch Daniil offered a prayer for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine and for reconciliation between "the two brotherly nations."

On January 4, 1878, Russian troops led by General Vasily Iosifovich Romeyko-Gurko entered Sofia. They were welcomed by the city’s residents at Koru-Cheshme Square (today’s St Nedelya Square). Teacher Mihail Bubotinov addressed the troops on behalf of the people of Sofia with a special speech, the Regional History Museum of Sofia recalled.