Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates Saint John of Rila's 1150th anniversary

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is celebrating the 1150th anniversary of the birth of Saint John of Rila, the patron saint of Bulgaria and founder of the Rila Monastery. The festivities include a high-profile visit by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Rila Monastery, where he joined Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel for a festive liturgy.

During the visit, Patriarch Daniel emphasized the importance of dialogue and unity within the Orthodox Church, stating that joint celebrations serve as a message of peace in a world often marked by division. The religious event, also known as Otchovden, draws thousands of pilgrims to the monastery to honor the saint's memory.

In addition to the religious significance, October 19 is also observed as Bulgarian Doctors' Day, as the Bulgarian Medical Union designated Saint John of Rila as the patron of the profession in 1996 due to his historical reputation as a healer.