Metropolitan Grigory of Vratsa, Vice-President of the Holy Synod, led a solemn prayer service on May 24 in celebration of the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Enlightenment, Culture, and Slavic Literature. The service was attended by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Secretary General of the Holy Synod; Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik, Vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia; Archimandrite Basil, the Protosyncellus of the Sofia Metropolitanate; clergy; capital priests; and protodeacons Ivan Petkov and Deyan Korunovski.
In his homily, Metropolitan Grigory emphasized the significance of the holiday: “The celebration of our alphabet and our enlightenment, literature, and culture is especially dear to every Bulgarian heart. Our joy on this bright day reflects our deep-rooted national spirit, our pursuit of enlightenment and knowledge, and our reverence for our rich history. On this day, our thoughts and prayers are particularly with those tireless figures in education, science, literature, and culture, who, with apostolic zeal, dedication, and self-sacrifice, overcome all obstacles in their noble endeavors.”
Following the prayer service, Metropolitan Grigory, the bishops, clergy, the choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral, and Orthodox Christians headed to the National Library “St. Cyril and Methodius.” The event was graced by the presence of the President of Bulgaria, Mr. Rumen Radev; the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev; politicians; public figures; numerous statesmen; academic representatives; figures from the fields of education and culture; citizens; parents; children; and students.
Source: bg-patriarshia.bg