Bulgaria welcomed Orthodox hierarchs for historic enthronement ceremony

On Friday, 28 June, the delegation of the Archdiocese of Cyprus, led by Bishop Christophoros of Karpasia accompanied by Archimandrite Stylianos, arrived at Sofia Airport.

On Saturday, 29 June, additional delegations from the Local Orthodox Churches arrived to join in the celebration of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the enthronement of its new Primate.

At noon, representatives of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem arrived, including Metropolitan Timothy of Bostra, Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Cyprus, and Archimandrite Raphael, Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Greece. Later in the day, the representatives of the Archdiocese of Athens, Metropolitan Efstathios of Monemvasia and Sparta, and Metropolitan Maximos of Ioannina also arrived.

In the afternoon, representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church—Metropolitan Andrew of Gora and Protopresbyter George Zviadadze—arrived, followed by delegates of the Romanian Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Nifon of Targovishte, Patriarchal Exarch, and Hierodeacon Nicolae Iftimiu, who were welcomed at Sofia Airport in the late afternoon.

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Church of Albania, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and the Orthodox Church in the Republic of North Macedonia also arrived in Bulgaria.

According to the schedule, the representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches will attend the Holy Liturgy at Saint Nedelya Cathedral, and at 3 p.m., they will be at Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral for the enthronement of the newly elected Bulgarian Patriarch.

Source: Bulgarian Patriachate