site.btaPatriarch Daniil Venerates Relics of St. John of Rila

Patriarch Daniil venerated the relics of St. John of Rila in the Rila Monastery Monday during the celebrations of the 555th anniversary of their return from Tarnovo. Earlier in the day, Daniil lead his first service, which honoured St. John of Rila the Miracle Worker and lasted for more than two hours, marking his first official duty following his election as Bulgarian Church Patriarch.

The translation of the relics of St John of Rila to the Rila Monastery is commemorated each year on July 1. After being moved to Sredets, Hungary and the old Bulgarian capital Tarnovo over the ages, the holy relics were returned to the Rila Monastery on June 30, 1469. On the next day the first liturgy was served in the presence of the relics. July 1 is the third feast of St John of Rila. The other two are August 18, the day of his death, and October 19, when his relics were moved to Sredets.

Patriarch Daniil wished under the protection and through the prayers of St. John of Rila "the Lord to gather us to be as one," and to help people to think about what is up in heaven and not about what is down on earth. "We are temporary people - today we are here and tomorrow we are gone, but the Lord abides forever," he added.