News
Patr. Daniel Concludes Historic Visit to Jerusalem Patriarchate
Patr. Daniel concluded a five-day visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem that included prayer at major holy sites, a meeting with Jordan’s king, and calls for peace in the region.
JERUSALEM — Patr. Daniel of Bulgaria concluded his visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on September 30, following five days of prayer, worship, and meetings in the Holy Land and Jordan. The September 25–30 visit included Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Madaba, and Amman and was described by Patr. Theophilos III of Jerusalem as “historic.”
During the visit, Patr. Daniel and his delegation venerated numerous sites associated with the life, Passion, Resurrection, and Baptism of Christ, including the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha, Gethsemane, the tomb of the Theotokos, and the Church and Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem. They also visited the Monastery of St. Sava, the cell of St. John of Damascus, the Jordan River, and the traditional site of Christ’s Baptism.
Patr. Daniel offered prayers for peace and an end to hostilities in the Middle East and expressed support for the Jerusalem Patriarchate amid its difficulties. At the Holy Sepulcher, he said: “Here in the very heart of Christianity, where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead, we raise His life-giving and victorious Cross with unwavering faith that evil does not have the last word, that peace is possible, and that after the Crucifixion comes the Resurrection!”
In Amman, Patr. Daniel met with King Abdullah II at Al Husseiniya Palace. The king reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to protecting the Christian presence and the Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. He also invited Patr. Daniel to Jordan’s 2030 celebrations marking 2,000 years since the Baptism of Christ at Bethany beyond the Jordan.
The Bulgarian Patriarchate said the visit strengthened relations between the Bulgarian and Jerusalem Patriarchates and highlighted the “fraternal communion” of the two Churches. The Bulgarian delegation expressed gratitude to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Jordanian royal court, and Bulgarian diplomatic representatives for their assistance during the pilgrimage.
Previously, the UOJ reported that King Abdullah welcomed Patr. Daniel and Theophilos in Jordan.
Read also
