2024-05-06 17:49:46
The iron church “St. Stephen” on the bank of the Golden Horn in Istanbul today was overflowing with people who came to the festive service for the Second Resurrection of Christ, reports BTA.
His Eminence Bishop Tikhon, Patriarchal Vicar, led the service. Priests from Bulgaria took part in the solemn service, as well as the priest of the Bulgarian churches in Turkey, Archimandrite Haralampi Nichev.
The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Istanbul was represented by the Bulgarian Consul Radoslava Kafedzhiyska.
According to the tradition of the service, texts from the Gospel were read in different languages, including Turkish, dedicated to the Resurrection of God’s son Jesus Christ.
“This is how we are reminded that the good news of Christ’s Resurrection was carried by the apostles to all the nations of the world. With his death, Jesus Christ redeemed the sins of mankind, and with his Resurrection he gave hope for life after death,” said Kyriako Lyaze, conductor of the church choir of the Bulgarian religious community in Istanbul, called the Tsarigrad Bulgarians. Those present at the festive liturgy greeted each other with “Christ is Risen” and “Voistina Risen”. They gave each other painted eggs and cakes.
Holy Saturday services for the first Pascha Resurrection were held in the Iron Church and in the Church of St. John of Rila in the Exarchate House. There also took place the traditional circling of the church yard with lighted candles, when the Grace Fire was lowered.
Tourists with seven buses from Bulgaria had arrived especially for the Easter holidays in Istanbul. There were also many tourists from different countries in the Iron Church.
After the festive liturgy in the Iron Church, in the large hall of the Exarch’s House, a friendly lunch of the Bulgarian community took place, organized by the church board with chairman Dimitar Yotef.