Synod of Bulgarian Church declines trip to receive Holy Fire
The Synod of the Bulgarian Church decided not to send a delegation to Jerusalem for the Holy Fire because of security threats amid the conflict in the Middle East.
On April 9, 2026, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church decided not to send a delegation to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Fire, according to a statement published on the Synod’s official Facebook page.
The decision was linked to the ongoing military hostilities in the Middle East and the high level of security risk. “In view of the continuing military actions in the Middle East region and the highest travel risk level in place for Israel and Palestine, the Holy Synod has decided not to send a delegation,” the statement said.
The Synod noted that Bulgarian authorities had issued the corresponding warning, urging citizens to refrain from traveling to the region and to leave it.
At the same time, the Holy Fire will still be available to the faithful in Bulgaria. “The Fire kept in the capital may be received in the Synodal Chapel of St. Tsar Boris-Michael after 2:00 p.m. on Great Saturday,” the statement said.
The faithful were also called to prayer. “We call on Orthodox Christians to offer fervent prayer for an end to the conflict in the Middle East and for peace in the Holy Land and throughout the world,” the Synod said.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the authorities reopened the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Great Thursday.
