On July 3, 2011, celebrations were held in Sofia to mark the 40th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria.


The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. The Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was assisted by heads of other Orthodox Churches, church dignitaries and numerous clergy.

Present at the service were Bulgaria’s President G. Pyrvanov and other Bulgarian high officials, as well as Russian Ambassador Yu. Isakov, diplomats from Ukraine, Belarus and other countries and political and public figures in Bulgaria.

After the service, a grand luncheon was given at the Kempinski Hotel Zograf, during which church delegation offered congratulations to Patriarch Maxim. Congratulations on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia were extended by Metropolitan Sergiy of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk. He presented Patriarch Maxim with an icon of Our Lady of Kazan, a gift from the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

© http://www.mospat.ru/en/ - july 4th 2011

here a fotogallery