Father Ivan from Rome: Bulgarians welcome the bright holiday of May 24 with immense spiritual joy

published on 5/23/24 8:25 AM

Photo: The Bulgarian Orthodox municipality "Sveti Sedmochislenitsi" in Rome

The biggest celebration of the Day of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture and of Slavic literature - May 24, outside the borders of Bulgaria, is traditionally held in Rome. Every year, on the eve of the holiday, an official delegation from Bulgaria arrives in the Eternal City, which is received at an audience by the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican and participates in a series of events related to the celebration of the remarkable deed of the holy brothers.

2024 is a special year for the Bulgarian Orthodox ecclesiastical community "Sveti Sedmochiselnitsi" (the Seven Apostles) in Rome, which, together with all Bulgarians in the Italian capital, is celebrating the bright day with a series of appearances, we learn from Prof. Dr. Ivan Ivanov. He is known as Father Ivan or Padre Giovanni and is a professor at the Theological Faculty of Sofia University and at the Pontifical Lateran University in the Eternal City, where he also leads the services in the so-called Bulgarian church.

"This year's celebrations are related to the 100th anniversary of the first official pilgrimage and service in honor of the holy brothers at the tomb of St. Constantine Cyril the Philosopher and his relics in the Roman Basilica of San Clemente. In addition, this year we also mark 5 years since the visit of Pope Francis to Bulgaria", Father Ivan tells Radio Bulgaria. And adds:

"We have the right, and this is an exceptional contribution of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, with the blessing of His Eminence Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony, to serve the Holy Liturgy and liturgical processions in all important places in Rome, where the holy brothers and their disciples lived and served. These are the sacred places associated with their life and work."

Priest Ivan from Rome: Bulgarians abroad need to feel the church as a family

The opening of the exhibition "Mount Athos in Drawings and Photographs" at the Pontifical Lateran University, in the presence of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, is among the key events dedicated to May 24 in the Italian capital.

Exhibition "Mount Athos in drawings and photographs" to open in Rome on the occasion of May 24

"We truly hope that this exhibition will enable visitors to experience the vast treasure trove of Orthodoxy", says Father Ivan and adds that the culmination of the celebrations in Rome this year will occur on the morning of May 23, when the Holy Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on the central altar of the ancient basilica San Clemente by the Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony in collaboration with Bulgarian priests from Europe. And more:

"We have also invited an Orthodox choir from Bulgaria, which will contribute to the "decoration" of the service - this is the Agia choir from Sofia, which will help us during the liturgical processions", explains Father Ivan. "We have also invited the Bulgarian folk group "White Rose" from the city of Pescara. In addition, we will do a short concert after the liturgy, after the visit to the holy places in San Clemente, with which we wish to congratulate all the guests. The other important event is on the morning of May 24 at 11 a.m. Then the solemn prayer of thanksgiving begins in the chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the patron saints of Europe in the Vatican grottoes below Saint Peter's Basilica. There will also be representatives of the Bulgarian delegation, diplomats, as well as the trustees of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church community in Rome."

Bulgarian State Delegation brings Bulgarian symbols of peace and spiritual unity to the Vatican

Bulgarians in Rome welcome the bright holiday with extraordinary spiritual joy, emphasizes Father Ivan and adds:

"For 100 years, from May 1924 to this day, Bulgarians, regardless of the various objective circumstances and difficulties they go through in their lives, have preserved their Bulgarian national spirit! And the strength of the spirit is an extremely important thing, and they demonstrate it through the worship, through the services, through these feasts in the Eternal City."

Read also:

Photos: the Bulgarian Orthodox ecclesiastical community "Sveti Sedmochislenitsi" in Rome, facebook.com/C.O.B.Roma, Union of Bulgarian Artists, BTA

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Father Ivan from Rome: Bulgarians welcome the bright holiday of May 24 with immense spiritual joy

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