The Christmas holidays are filled with a special joy. These days are an excellent opportunity for pilgrimage for all believers. The feasts spent at the sites for religious pilgrimage are true blessing, father Stilian Tabakov from St. Andrew the First-Called church in Sofia told Radio Bulgaria. The people have plenty of time to hear and think over faith-related truths. The Pilgrimage Center St. John of Rila with the Sofia Bishopric uses this opportunity. It gathers believers in one place where they learn from a lecturer about the pilgrimage route and the places for pilgrimage, priest Tabakov says and adds:

It is important to note that laymen are accompanied by a cleric during the pilgrimage. The group of people who joined our first pilgrimage named the event Traveling Church. In this sense the church, its community and priests leave the temple building and get closer to people. Sometimes, when people go to the church they feel uneasy or are afraid of asking certain questions when they do not know what to do exactly in the church. During the pilgrimage Christians learn how to enter the church, to bow or kiss an icon, to make the sign of the holy cross and everything is learned with ease. Besides, pilgrimage is a wonderful religious trip, too, which allows people to visit certain religious sites and have a wonderful time.

Most pilgrimages are organized during the big holidays and weekends when people are off work. Pilgrimage is also organized during church feasts. For example, people visit the Vrachesh Monastery St. Forty Martyrs during the Saints Forty Martyrs feast during the Great Lent. Bachkovo Monastery is visited on the Day of the Assumption of Mary - August 15, when long processions follow the icon of the Holy Mother. Believers also  visit the city of Thessaloniki (Greece) during the feast of St. Gregory Palamas and the fest of the Holy St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki. The days after Christmas are suitable for pilgrimage to the Iron Church St. Stephen in Istanbul. This period is filled with special blessing.

Bulgaria has a wonderful church in Istanbul which is among the most-visited tourist sites there. We have organized a trip on St Stephen’s Day December 27. On one hand people will have the opportunity to enjoy the church liturgy and on the other hand they can support the local Christian community. The laymen feel our love and are blessed to mark the day of St Stephan together with us when we visit this place in groups. The holidays are time for joy and we try to make that joy greater

Last year the beautifully renovated Iron Church St Stephen was officially reopened in Istanbul.

Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) is the city of Orthodox kings. Unfortunately, few of the old Christian temples are still active. Hagia Sofia museum is one of them. This is one of the most impressive orthodox temples worldwide which was turned into a museum. The Bulgarian St Stephen Church is the only temple where church services are held in this city. It is a unique architectural monument which was built with a lot of money, love and faith. Celebrating the Feast of Saint Stephen in this temple fills us with joy and satisfaction. The feeling is the same when we visit the St Demetrius Church in Thessaloniki or the Church of St George in Lod (Israel). We are planning a pilgrimage to the Tomb of Saint George’s in ancient Palestine for May 6 next (Saint George’s Day). The programme of the trip includes a visit to the Holy Places. Lod is situated on the territory of Israel and a visit to this town can become part of our religious tour next year. The men who have the opportunity to mark Saint George’s Day on Mount Athos will have the chance to feel the special solemnity of this holy day. Some places cannot be described with words only. People have to go there and feel them with their souls. This feeling brings the joy and the light God only gives us.