Bulgarian Patriarch Visits Samtavro Monastery in Georgia
Bulgarian Patr. Daniel's visit to Samtavro Monastery underscored deep spiritual ties between the Georgian and Bulgarian Churches.
MTSKHETA, GEORGIA — Late on March 22, 2026, following a memorial meal for the newly departed Patr. Ilia II, Patr. Daniel led a church delegation on a pilgrimage to Samtavro Monastery, one of the country’s most historic spiritual centers.
The delegation was warmly received by the monastery’s sisterhood with hymns inside the church where the relics of St. Gabriel Urgebadze rest. Patr. Daniel knelt in prayer before the incorrupt relics, offering petitions for the well-being of the Georgian and Bulgarian Churches and their peoples. He also delivered words of comfort to the abbess and sisters, highlighting the spiritual legacy of the revered ascetic, widely venerated in Bulgaria.
Following the service, the delegation visited the saint’s cell, where his personal belongings, icons, and incorrupt heart are preserved. The visit concluded with the presentation of an icon of St. Gabriel to Patr. Daniel, marking a moment of spiritual unity and mutual respect.
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