The municipality and Bartholomew I exchange gifts as a token of mutual respect

His All Holiness Bartholomew I, head of Constantinople patriarchate, was enchanted by the beauty of the ancient churches of Nessebar. The patriarch paid a visit to Nessebar municipality. He was officially greeted by the mayor Nikolai Dimitrov and Blagoi Filipov, the chairman of the municipal council, outside the gates of the ancient town. The guest of honour was accompanied by Dimitar Atanasov, archon of the Oecumenical patriarchate, the metropolitan of Sliven Yoanikii, minister Bozhidar Dimitrov, Dinko and Yordan Dinev brothers. The mayor presented the symbol of gratitude of Nessebar municipality to His All Holiness for his merits rendered to the municipality. The Oecumenical patriarchate endowed a small part of the relics of the highly honoured by the local people St. Vlasii. The visit of Bartholomew I raised the prestige of Nessebar as a religious tourism centre. Archon Dimitar Atanasov who is a member of the Bulgarian ecclesiastical society in Turkey was presented with the symbol of gratitude too.

The Oecumenical patriarch looked around the churches of Nessebar, the city of UNESCO, for two hours. Some of them are of the oldest Christian churches in the whole world. He paid special attention to the Old Metropolitan church, St. John Aliturgetos and St. Stephen. He was quite interested in the frescoes of St. Stephen church.

Bartholomew I met and blessed every child on his way. The babies were presented with a small red box with a sanctified gold cross inside.

“All you Bulgarians, Orthodox Christians, united by your religion always have hope in God. Live your virtuous life; love all people no matter what they are like; have peace of mind and the blessing I carry from your church the mother is to be bestowed with all good things of life by God Almighty”, said the patriarch in the church of the Assumption of Our Lady. As a token of his visit he presented an incense-burner.

Earlier that day he pronounced a blessing on the church of St. Vlasii in the town of Sveti Vlas. “With joy and deep inspirations we have come here in Sveti Vlas. We carry the love and blessing of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Our visit is in the eve of the holiday of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius of Thessaloniki who are the patron saints of literacy, science, knowledge and culture. The Oecumenical patriarchate and I for one deeply respect the Bulgarian people. We were really happy when Bulgaria joined the European Union three years ago. We rejoice at your success. I hope Bulgaria will become a factor of stability and friendship on the Balkan Peninsula and in the world”, those were the words of His All Holiness.

























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