Troyan Monastery celebrates patronal feast with thousands of believers

Thousands of believers gathered at the Troyan Monastery ‘Assumption of the Mother of God’ to celebrate the monastery's patronal feast day. The religious observance included a festive liturgy led by the monastery's abbot, Bishop Vasiliy of Dragoviti.

Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova attended the services and participated in a traditional procession featuring the miraculous ‘Three-Handed Icon’ of the Mother of God. The icon, which has been kept at the monastery for 426 years, was carried from the church to a chapel located at the site where it is believed to have first performed a miracle. A water consecration ceremony was held at the chapel following the procession.

During the event, President Yotova met with Bishop Vasiliy to discuss the history of the icon and the possibility of displaying the monastery's relics in a museum to increase public awareness of the site's heritage. Local officials, including the Mayor of Troyan and the Governor of Lovech, were also present.