On the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil officiated a memorial service for the victims—both priests and laypeople—at Sofia’s St Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral. Addressing journalists, Patriarch Daniil noted that the April Uprising not only demonstrated exceptional heroism but also led to martyrdom for the faith. He stated that during the conflict, many ancestors faced a choice between worldly life and their Orthodox faith, ultimately choosing their spiritual devotion.
The Patriarch emphasized that on this day, the Church honors the heroes of the uprising by offering prayers for the repose of all who died for their faith and the nation’s freedom. He suggested that the self-sacrifice of these individuals successfully drew attention not only from European and global public opinion and the governments of major powers, but also to divine mercy. In his blessing, Patriarch Daniil invoked the prayers of the martyrs, asking that they help preserve the Orthodox faith, which he characterized as a teaching of valor, honesty, courage, and sacrificial love for neighbors, citing this as a guarantee of Bulgaria’s survival.
The memorial service was attended by high-ranking officials, including President Iliana Iotova, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and various representatives from political parties and the academic community. Following the service, 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
