Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniel is scheduled to visit the Patriarchate of Jerusalem from September 25 to 30, 2026, at the invitation of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Bulgaria’s BTA news agency reports.

The visit is expected to be a notable meeting between the Bulgarian and Jerusalem Orthodox Churches this year. Its central event will be a joint Divine Liturgy celebrated by the two patriarchs on September 27, the Orthodox feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The service is scheduled to take place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, one of Christianity’s most important holy sites.

The Bulgarian delegation is proposed to include Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop, Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, secretary of the Holy Synod, Protodeacon Deyan Korunovski, and Patriarch Daniel’s adviser Alexander Smochevskiy. The final composition of the delegation is expected to be approved by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Following his visit to Jerusalem, Patriarch Daniel is expected to continue his trip to Jordan. His program is to include meetings with Jordanian officials, including King Abdullah II, as well as visits to Christian holy sites.

The possibility of establishing a Bulgarian pilgrimage center in Jordan, near the traditional site of Jesus Christ’s baptism, could also be discussed. The proposal was previously raised by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the Jordanian king’s adviser on religious and cultural affairs, who suggested allocating land for Bulgarian pilgrims.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has emphasized the longstanding spiritual ties between the two Orthodox Churches. It also highlighted the significance of the visit amid the continuing challenges facing the Middle East, expressing hope that the joint prayer would serve as a sign of support for Christians in the Holy Land and as a call for peace.

The planned liturgy at the Holy Sepulchre is expected to be the focal point of Patriarch Daniel’s visit, bringing together the leaders of two Orthodox Churches with longstanding historical and spiritual connections.