site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil Makes Christmas Address

His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil made an address on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ, which is published on the website of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

"May the Nativity of Christ be the beginning of a profound gracious change in the way we think and live, in our relationship to God and to our neighbors!" His Holiness addressed the Bulgarian people, wishing them a merry Christmas and a peaceful, gracious and saving New Year.

The metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate (BOC-BP) also sent a patriarchal and synodal Christmas message, quoted by the press service of the BOC-BP.

"May the peace and goodwill that the Angelic Host announced to the whole world on the most bright night of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with all of us!," the message read.

The BOC-BP congratulated "all the children of our holy Church, within the borders of our Motherland and far from it" with heartfelt wishes for light and joy.

Patriarch Daniil will perform festive services on December 24 and 25 at Sofia's St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

On Christmas Eve the festive vigil will begin at 18:00.  On December 25, the Nativity of Christ, the festive holy liturgy will begin at 9:30 am.