Patr. Bartholomew to Visit Bulgaria for St. John of Rila Celebrations

SOFIA, BULGARIA — The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has announced a program of commemorations marking 1,150 years since the birth and 1,080 years since the death of St. John of Rila, a revered saint in Bulgarian Orthodoxy. The events are scheduled for Oct. 17-19, 2026, and will include services in the capital of Sofia and at the Rila Monastery. 

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is scheduled to arrive in Sofia on Oct. 17, where he will be received by Patr. Daniel of Bulgaria and members of the Holy Synod of Bulgaria in the Synodal Palace. Later that day, the two Patriarchs are scheduled to open the exhibition "Mount Athos in Sofia” at the National Palace of Culture. The exhibition features works by Greek artist Efthymios Varlamis and was organized with the assistance of the Holy Metropolis of Sofia and the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

On October 18, the Patriarchs will gather at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia. Following their arrival, a solemn hierarchical Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:30 a.m., with both primates participating in prayer. At noon, a Trisagion service will be held at the grave of the late Bulgarian Patr. Neophyte.

The celebrations will conclude on October 19 at the Holy Monastery of Rila, the spiritual center associated with St. John of Rila. A festive patriarchal Divine Liturgy with the Holy Synod is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

St. John of Rila is one of the most revered saints in Bulgaria's Orthodox Christian community, and the founder of the Rila Monastery. His annual feast day falls on Oct. 19, commemorating his repose.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Bulgarian Patr. Daniel visited Samtravo monastery in Georgia.