Bulgarian patriarch explains what a “blessed war” means

Patriarch Daniel. Photo: Press Service of the Bulgarian Church

On May 6, 2026, the feast day of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful not to fear the struggle against evil, explaining that for a Christian this struggle is waged not against people, but against sin, BNT News reports.

According to the primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the feast unites Bulgarians not only around military traditions and the army, but above all around faith and resistance to evil. The Patriarch recalled that St. George is one of the most venerated saints in Bulgaria, and that about 200,000 people celebrate their name day on this date. Patriarch Daniel said the main message of St. George is courage in the fight against evil – a struggle that must begin with a person’s work on himself in order to attain inner peace.

Patriarch Daniel explained the meaning of what he called a “blessed war”: in his words, it is the daily spiritual battle against human passions – hatred, envy, greed, and lust for power. Sin and estrangement from God, the Patriarch is convinced, are the true causes of today’s wars and suffering. True peace is not the result of force, but a divine gift acquired through repentance and love.

Patriarch Daniel also spoke in particular about the role of the Church as a moral institution. “The Church is called to bear witness to the truth. When politics hides behind falsehood, the Church must expose it, so that people are not drawn into evil while thinking they are doing good,” the primate emphasized.

As the UOJ reported, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel prayed for the Christians of Syria and Lebanon.

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