site.btaUPDATED Memorial Service for Late Zographou Monastery Hegumen

A memorial service was held for Archimandrite Ambrose, Hegumen of Zographou Monastery on Holy Mount Athos, in Sofia on Tuesday. He passed away after a brief illness.

Bishop Pachomius of Branica, Vicar to the Metropolitan of Sofia, celebrated the memorial liturgy at the St. Nedelya Metropolitan Cathedral.

A panikhida memorial service with the participation of His Holiness Patriarch Daniil and President Rumen Radev followed the liturgy.

President Radev said: "We have lost a devout servant of God and Orthodox Christianity, who dedicated his life to the spiritual development of Zographou Monastery and Mount Athos."

Under the Archimandrite's leadership, the monastery established itself as a stronghold of Orthodoxy and Bulgarian spirituality, as a guardian of Bulgarian history and a pillar of the centuries-old ties between the Bulgarian people and Mount Athos, Radev told reporters after the service.

The President said he took a small consolation in knowing that the Hegumen had received recognition during his lifetime: "He was awarded the Order of the Balkan Range and I had the honour of presenting it to him. He was a soft-spoken man whose words carried great wisdom. We all loved him, he possessed great strength and exuded deep spirituality as a true patriot."

"When one spends a few days and nights at that holy place, engaging with our monks, especially with Archimandrite Ambrose, one feels transformed - rising above the mundane, reflecting differently on Bulgaria, its future and our faith," Radev said. "Father Ambrose will be deeply missed, but he remains a role model. That holy place and sanctuary must continue to be supported, and we will keep doing so," the President said referring to Zographou Monastery. 

National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova also attended the service.