On Monday, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil officiated a memorial service at Sofia’s St Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising. Addressing journalists, Patriarch Daniil stated that the April Uprising represented not only unparalleled heroism but also the emergence of martyrdom for the faith. He noted that during the difficult outcome of the uprising, many ancestors faced a choice between renouncing their faith and facing severe consequences, choosing instead to remain faithful to their Orthodox beliefs.
The Patriarch emphasized that on this day, the Church honors the heroes of the April Uprising, maintaining a tradition of praying for all who perished for their faith and for the nation’s freedom. He suggested that the self-sacrifice of these individuals elevated their cause beyond local recognition, drawing attention to both European and global powers, and appealing to divine mercy. During his blessing, Patriarch Daniil invoked prayers for the holy martyrs of the April Uprising, asking that their memory help uphold the Orthodox faith, which he described as teaching valor, honesty, courage, and sacrificial love for neighbors.
The memorial service was attended by President Iliana Iotova, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Evelina Slavcheva, and other representatives from political parties and the academic community. Following the ceremony, Patriarch Daniil and President Iotova led a procession to the BAS building for a national commemorative assembly, an event held under the President’s auspices.
Topics: #uprising #april #daniil
Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil presided over a memorial service at Sofia’s St Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral on Monday, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the April Upri