Divine Liturgy on St. Ivan Island for the First Time in 500 Years
Church chants will once again resound on St. Ivan Island near Sozopol for the first time in five centuries. For the first time in 500 years, the ruined monastery complex will host a divine liturgy, marking both a significant religious event and the historical context of the place.
The event is not by chance. On this very day, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. John the Baptist – the day his beheading is commemorated. It was on this island, 15 years ago in 2010, that relics were discovered that are believed to be part of the saint's mortal remains. This discovery turned St. Ivan Island into a center of pilgrimage and revived interest in its spiritual history.
The festive day will begin solemnly with a processional procession that will start from the church of "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" in Sozopol. Clergy and believers gathered on the shore will pass through the city streets, heading towards the port. There, to the ringing of bells and amidst prayers, pilgrims will board boats and head to the island to attend the historic service.
The central event is the divine holy liturgy, which will be served by Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven. The service will be held among the ruins of the old monastery, creating a unique atmosphere that combines past and present. Hundreds of people, believers and curious onlookers alike, are expected to gather to witness this remarkable restoration of spiritual tradition.
After the liturgy, a special ceremony will take place. Professor Kazimir Popkonstantinov, the archaeologist who led the excavations that led to the discovery of the holy relics, will be honored with the highest award of the Sliven Metropolis. He will receive the order of "St. Dimitar of Sliven" first class, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to Bulgarian archaeology and the preservation of Christian heritage.