Patriarch of Bulgaria delivers call for repentance during Service of the Great Canon at the Cathedral of St. Nedelya

On Tuesday evening, 2 April 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria presided over the Small Compline with the entire Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Nedelya in Sofia.

At the conclusion of the Great Canon, Patriarch Daniel offered a deeply moving homily on the need for repentance and the transformative power it holds.

“We experience the grace-filled impact of the prayers of Saint Andrew of Crete, who from the depths of his soul cried out to God for forgiveness,” he said. “He moves us with numerous examples from the Old and New Testaments so that we too may cry out: ‘Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!’”

He emphasised the urgency of repentance, noting, “We see how desperately our soul needs these cries—because we sin before God every day. We have much to repent for, and we know that without true, complete repentance, the soul cannot feel the joy spoken of by the prophet David: ‘Restore to me the joy of Your salvation’ (Psalm 51:12).”

Reflecting on the biblical figure of King David, Patriarch Daniel described how even a prophet could fall into grievous sin, but through deep remorse and heartfelt repentance, return to God’s grace. “David committed both adultery and murder in his desire, thinking it would bring him happiness. But when confronted by the prophet Nathan, he realised the spiritual death his sins had caused and cried out: ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy’ (Psalm 51:1).”

“Sin and divine grace cannot coexist,” the Patriarch reminded the faithful. “When we recognise how much our sins separate us from God, we must cry out and resolve to fight—with determination—to be healed.”

At the end of his homily, Patriarch Daniel called on the faithful to seek the deep repentance exemplified by both King David and Saint Mary of Egypt, who is mentioned frequently in the Canon.

“May the Lord grant us the repentance of all those who have walked the path from sin to God’s love,” he concluded. “May this time of repentance bear fruit—of self-awareness, of tears before God, of forgiveness. God is mighty to support us and merciful to receive us. Let Him strengthen in us the intention and desire to serve Him, to walk with Him, and to turn from our sinful ways with strength and joy along the path of Christ’s commandments.”

Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria / Text: Mihail Taskov / Photos: Vesela Ignatova