.png "English"){kind=small}
BELOVED IN THE LORD CHILDREN OF OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DEAR COMPATRIOTS,
In
times of trials, our nation is being threatened by the expanding
pandemic, when the disease is close to us and we see the suffering of
the people, we are all called for to be responsible towards our
neighbour, our nation and our Motherland. We clearly realize that we are
in the most mystical time of the Church – the Holy Lent, days saturated
with repentance and ceaseless prayer. Time for preparation and
anticipation of the Feast of all feasts – the Resurrection of Christ!
With
fatherly concern, we address you, dear brothers and sisters, to comply
our everyday life with all the requirements of this state of emergency.
We are calling for the recommendations of the Holy Synod and of the
metropolitan bishops to be followed. Let us constantly the hope for the
favourable ending of this severe trial for our nation. Our faith and the
love of Christ which burn in us are a shield that is going to protect
us from the challenges of the day. Let us not get despondent and despite
the difficulties let us be with high spirits and pray ceaselessly! Let
us abstain from any evil! Let us not forget Christ’s command:
“In the world you have distress, but rejoice! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Having
stayed in our homes, in front of the home icon, still and with
repenting hearts, let us fix our eyes on Christ the Saviour with a
prayer for healing of the sick and for supporting our doctors, our
government and army and all who do not save their efforts in these hard
times, as we pray like this:
“Lord Jesus Christ, our God, True
Healer of the souls and bodies, Who showed such charity and made healthy
people who were suffering physically and spiritually, receive
favourably our prayer. God, Wonder Worker, with your strong power chase
away the deadly virus that causes fear, suffering and death. In these
days, when our faith is being tested, calm down the anxiety and heal the
sick. Lord, stop the power of the disease, protect the youths and bring
them to their senses. Support the sick and the elderly people and endow
them with health, peace and high spirits under the intercession of our
Sovereign Lady the Most Holy Theotokos, of our venerable father John of
Rila, the Wonder Worker, of the Holy Christ’s Unmercenaries and Healers
and of all saints.” Amen.
May God’s blessed help be with all of us!
May God protect Bulgaria!
† N E O P H Y T E
PATRIARCH OF BULGARIA
