Procession and festive liturgy on St. Ivan Island

On June 24, the day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, a grand procession takes place in Sozopol. Believers gather at the "St. Cyril and St. Methodius" church, from where the saint's relics will be carried to the port and then transported to St. Ivan Island.

Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven will conduct a liturgy amidst the ruins of the monastery – a historic event in a place that has been without divine service for centuries.

Free access for pilgrims

The Municipality of Sozopol provides free transport to the island by boats and ships to facilitate access for everyone wishing to pay respect to the relic.

New international pilgrimage route

On June 23, the cultural and tourist route "Path to the relics of Saint John the Baptist" was officially opened. The initiative is unique for Bulgaria and has large-scale international ambitions:

  • Integration into the European network for pilgrimage tourism.
  • Direct cooperation with the legendary Camino de Santiago.
  • Expert support from delegations from Spain, Belgium, and Denmark, which have already inspected the route.

This route not only preserves spiritual heritage but also puts Bulgaria on the map of global pilgrimage tourism.