Saint Anastasia Island: Pilgrimage and Prayer

Mayor Dimitar Nikolov, accompanied by high-ranking representatives of the Bulgarian and Greek Orthodox Churches, made a symbolic visit to St. Anastasia Island.

Among the delegation were Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven, Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv, and His Eminence Ierotheos III, Metropolitan of the islands of Lemnos and Agios Evstratios.

They were joined by the regional governor Vladimir Krumov.

The officials were visibly moved by the majestic history of the island, whose ancient foundations bear the imprint of centuries.

According to legends, a Greek monastic complex once existed in this place, confirmed by a discovered inscription plate from 1772, testifying to its construction.

The church on the island was an integral part of this monastic complex, one of the few surviving signs of its rich past.

Saturated with the island"s history, the atmosphere was filled with reverence.

In the island"s church, the high-ranking clergy served a joint prayer.

The prayer was an appeal to higher powers for the preservation of this sacred place, for the well-being of the pilgrims, and for the continuation of its holiness.

Silence, broken only by the whispers of prayers, enveloped the island in an atmosphere of spiritual unity.

After the visit to the island, the events moved to Burgas.

On September 17, at 9:00 am, in the church "St. Bogoroditsa", an Archieral Holy Liturgy will be served, led by Metropolitan Ierotheos III.

The highlight of this event will be the opportunity for the faithful to venerate the Honorable Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, brought specially for this occasion.

The veneration will continue until the end of the liturgy, after which the holy relic will be returned to Greece by the clergy, thus concluding the series of solemn events.