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Celebrations of the 1160th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria

The baptism of Tsar Boris I (painter Nikolai Pavlovich)
Photo: bulgarianhistory.org

This year, 2025, marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature. On this occasion, the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis is organizing solemn celebrations in the period May 1-3, which will be held in Varna, Pliska and Shumen. 

A Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Varna and a prayer service will be held in the courtyard of the Great Basilica near Pliska, where a solemn festive concert will also be held.

As part of the celebrations, a scientific session dedicated to the significant anniversaries will be held at the Shumen University "Bishop Konstantin Preslavski".

The Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil
His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil, together with metropolitans of the Holy Synod, bishops and clergy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and officials will take part in the celebrations. It is symbolic that they begin on the eve of May 2 – the date on which our Orthodox Church honors the memory of Prince Boris – the Bulgarian ruler who saw the need to adopt Christianity and was the first to be baptized, taking the name Mihail (Michael).

"The work of St. Tsar Boris-Michael and the adoption of the Orthodox faith by the Bulgarian people are key to the future of the state throughout the centuries and the preservation of the nation during the five hundred years of Ottoman slavery" – recalled Patriarch Daniil some time ago, when at a meeting with Vice President Iliana Iotova the joint celebration of the anniversary between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and state institutions was discussed.

Patriarch Daniil will be welcomed in Varna in the afternoon of May 1. This is his first visit to the Varna and Veliki Preslav Diocese after his election and enthronement to the Patriarchal See.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov is expected to attend the celebrations in Pliska.

The celebrations marking 1,160 years since the Bulgarian people adopted Christianity are planned to continue until the end of 2025.



Photos: bulgarianhistory.org, bg-patriarshia.bg, BGNES


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