Bulgaria Interim Patriarch Holds Christmas Eve Mass

Kiril will lead the Bulgarian Orthodox Church until February, 2013, during the preparations of the election of a new Patriarch. Photo by BGNES

The Christmas Eve festive lithurgy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on Monday is presided by the country's interim patriarch – former Varna Metropolitan Kiril.

The service starts at 18.00 EET at the St. Alexander Nevski cathedral in downtown Sofia. As usual, it will be covered by the Bulgarian National TV and the Bulgarian National Radio.

Christmas Eve marks one of the brightest of the Christian holidays for Bulgarians. It is a day devoted to home, hearth and family, including remembrance of the deceased of the family.

On Sunday, the interim head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will serve the traditional Christmas Day service, once again at the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Maxim died on November 6 at the age of 98.