Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 All Rights Reserved

Pilgrimage to St. John of Rila begins in Sofia

Photo: Metropolitan Diocese of Sofia

For the 15th consecutive year, the "Miracle Worker of Rila" pilgrimage gathers Orthodox Christians from near and far to walk from Sofia to the Rila Monastery. The Holy Metropolis of Sofia announces on its website that the pilgrimage is organised with the blessing of His Holiness the Metropolitan of Sofia and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil.

The pilgrimage will take place from August 1 to 6 and will cross the mountains of Vitosha, Verila and Rila. On the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a mass is held at the Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

And this year, on August 1, the march will begin in the capital's St. Sophia Temple with a Holy Mass and water service celebrated by Patriarch Daniil. For the first time, the First Hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will also officiate at the water consecration at one of the Seven Rila Lakes - "Babreka" - on August 5, a traditional part of the pilgrimage programme.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

New cultural-gastronomic center showcases Bulgarian culinary tradition in Romania

The Bulgarian minority in Romania marked a significant event with the official opening of the Bulgarian Inn in the village of Izvoarele (Hanul Bilgarilor), Teleorman County (Southern Romania)- a locality with Bulgarian roots dating back over 200 years...

published on 11/30/25 6:00 AM

The DiVino.Taste forum showcases new and exciting wines from across Bulgaria

The 14th edition of DiVino.Taste, Bulgaria’s leading forum for wines and winemakers, will take place from 28 to 30 November at the Inter Expo Centre in Sofia. Over 80 producers from all wine regions will participate, offering tastings of around 600 of the..

published on 11/28/25 9:05 AM

After massive protest in front of parliament building the ruling coalition freezes budget for 2026

Minutes before the second and final reading, at the parliamentary budget and finance committee, of the state budget for 2026, the leader of the biggest party represented in parliament GERB Boyko Borissov halted the procedure and sent the draft bill..

updated on 11/27/25 2:52 PM