Meatfare Sunday in 2025 will be remembered as a major celebration for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the entire Bulgarian community in the United Kingdom. The "St. John of Rila" Orthodox Church, built with funds from the Bulgarian state and with generous donations from Bulgarians living in the UK, was consecrated today.

 "This is the first Orthodox church built from foundation to roof in Europe", said Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil during the consecration. He called the construction of the church "a historic event":

"From today on, this temple of God begins its actual blessed life, as a place for worship and prayers, as a spiritual oasis amidst the vanity of the world, and the spiritual heart of all our Orthodox fellow citizens here, who wish to participate in worship in their native language", said Patriarch Daniil. "We are confident that it will be open to all Orthodox Christians who wish to come and pray here, to seek spiritual guidance and support in this temple", Patriarch Daniil went on to say.

The church was too small to accommodate all those who came to experience this important event, reported our correspondent in London, Darina Grigorova. 

During the service after the consecration, the Gospel text for the Last Judgment, read on Meatfare Sunday, was recalled in both Bulgarian and English.

The festive service was led by His Holiness Daniil, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia. The ceremony was also attended by Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan Pahomiy of Vidin, Holy Synod Secretary General Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Sofia Theological Seminary Rector Meletiy of Znepol, and Father Dobromir Dimitrov, a parish priest of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church community of St. John of Rila in London.

Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, representatives of all local Orthodox churches in the UK, the Lord Mayor of Westminster Robert Rigby, and representatives of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches were also present.

The event was also attended by Bulgarian diplomats and representatives of state institutions, including Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev.

Patriarch Daniil highlighted the great contribution of Bulgarian diplomat Marin Raykov – Ambassador of Bulgaria to London from 2019 to 2024 – in realizing the dream of three generations of Bulgarian emigrants in the United Kingdom. Marin Raykov was among the special guests at the solemn events in London.

"I would like this to be a place where Bulgarians can gather and find hope. The Bulgarian community in the UK is one of the largest, and it needs both moral support and the reassurance of faith, and it is the Church that gives comfort to our compatriots", said Marin Raykov during a reception for the Bulgarian community held at the Bulgarian Embassy in London.