Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel Concludes Historic Visit to Jerusalem with Prayers for Peace

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria concluded his historic first irenic visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on September 30, following six days of pilgrimage, meetings, and joint worship. The visit, which began on September 25, took the Bulgarian Patriarch and his delegation to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Madaba, and Amman. Throughout the trip, Patriarch Daniel repeatedly called for peace and an end to hostilities in the Middle East, marking the occasion with prayers at some of Christianity’s most sacred sites.

The journey was marked by expressions of solidarity with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its faithful, as well as meetings with religious and political leaders. Patriarch Daniel received a warm welcome from the bishops, clergy, and faithful of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, strengthening the longstanding fraternal relations between the two Orthodox Churches. During solemn services, he offered prayers for peace, an end to military hostilities, and stability in the region, acknowledging the difficulties facing the Church and its Christian communities.

In an address delivered during the celebrations of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Patriarch Daniel emphasized the Christian message of hope and the triumph of the Resurrection. He stated, “Here, in the very heart of Christianity, where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead, we lift up His life-giving and victorious Cross with unwavering faith that evil will not have the final word, that peace is possible, and that after the Crucifixion comes the Resurrection.” He also recalled the words of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: “I confess the Cross because I know the Resurrection.”

The pilgrimage included visits to numerous sites associated with the life of Christ and the history of Christianity. Among them were the Holy Sepulchre, the site of the discovery of the True Cross, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, and the Church of the Nativity and the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The delegation also venerated the miraculous icons of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem and Bethlehem and visited the Monastery of Saint Sabbas, the cell of Saint John of Damascus, the spring of Saint John the Baptist, and the Jordan River.

Their itinerary extended to the site of Christ’s Baptism and the place traditionally associated with the Prophet Elijah’s ascent into heaven in a fiery chariot. An important part of the visit was Patriarch Daniel’s meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan at Al Husseiniya Palace. During their discussions, the Jordanian monarch reaffirmed his country’s commitment to protecting the Christian presence in the region.

The visit underscored the role of the Holy Land as a place of shared spiritual heritage and interfaith dialogue. By engaging in joint worship and public prayer, the Patriarch highlighted the enduring call for reconciliation and stability in a region marked by ongoing conflict. The emphasis on the Resurrection and the Cross serves as a reminder of the Christian conviction that peace is possible and that hope persists even in times of hardship. This public witness aligns with the biblical call to pursue peace and justice, as reflected in the hope that “after the Crucifixion comes the Resurrection” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

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