In Burgas, UOC hierarch takes part in celebrations of Bulgarian Church

Hierarchs and clergy during the festive service in Burgas. Photo: UOC

On August 18, 2026, Archbishop Job of Shumsk, vicar of the Ternopil Diocese of the UOC, took part in a festive service in Burgas on the occasion of the 1080th anniversary of the blessed repose of St. John of Rila, reports the press service of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

The festive Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. John of Rila was led by Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven. He was concelebrated by Archbishop Job, as well as the clergy of the Bulgarian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches.

Archbishop Job arrived in the Sliven Diocese with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. After the service, he conveyed fraternal greetings from the Primate of the UOC to Metropolitan Arseniy, the clergy, and the faithful, and expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian Church for its support of Ukrainian pastors and believers.

Metropolitan Arseniy, in turn, noted the ministry of Ukrainian priests who have been caring for believers from Ukraine at the parishes of the Sliven Diocese for over a year, and emphasized the significance of Christian love, peace, and unity among peoples.

On the same day, Archbishop Job and Metropolitan Arseniy met with the Mayor of Burgas, Dimitar Nikolov. During the meeting, the UOC hierarch expressed gratitude for the assistance rendered to Ukrainians, and the mayor assured that the municipality would continue to support Ukrainian citizens residing in the city.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that pilgrims in Bulgaria walked 120 km in a procession to the Rila Monastery.

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