Descent of the Holy Spirit celebrated with solemnity in Sofia’s Patriarchal Cathedral
“We celebrate the great feast of the Lord—Pentecost—the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Apostles and the birthday of the Church. This is the event the Lord spoke of to the apostles before His Ascension: ‘Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49). This is the event of which He said: ‘I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!’ (Luke 12:49). It is the event foretold by the prophets, who said that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh and establish a new covenant with His people—removing their hearts of stone and giving them hearts of flesh, writing His commandments upon them,” said Patriarch Daniil in his homily for the feast of Pentecost.
Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria presided over the festive Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky,” concelebrated by Bishops Gerasim of Melnik (Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod), Isaac of Velbazhd (Vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia), and Meletius of Znepole (Rector of the Sofia Theological Seminary); Archimandrite Ioan (Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Sofia); Archpriest Kostadin Gavrilov; Protopresbyter Antony Milushev; Priest Slavi Spasov (Deputy Rector of the Seminary); Priest Miroslav Kostov; and Protodeacon Deyan Korunovski.
The festive hymns were chanted by the choir of the Sofia Theological Seminary “St. John of Rila.”
According to the church typikon, following the Divine Liturgy, Vespers was also served. During the service, walnut branches were dropped from the cathedral dome over the gathered faithful, symbolising the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Most Holy Theotokos and the Holy Apostles.
The kneeling prayers were then read, asking God for the forgiveness of sins, enlightenment and cleansing of hearts, the granting of divine grace, and forgiveness for all departed Orthodox Christians.
The solemn service concluded with a polychronion (Many Years) for Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and all Orthodox Christians.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
