The Bulgarian Orthodox community marked the Feast of the Transfiguration with what Patriarch Daniel described as a “spiritual transfiguration” brought about by the arrival of a wonderworking icon, which began a journey through dioceses across Bulgaria in early August.

Speaking during the festive Divine Liturgy in Sofia, Patriarch Daniel, the Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, said believers witnessed “an obvious miracle” that confirms the meaning of the Transfiguration. He noted that the icon of the Mother of God points people toward humanity’s higher calling: spiritual transformation and union with God.

The Patriarch said the icon was created using ordinary materials—photography applied onto a wooden base—but that the image became the source of myrrh-streaming (world-streaming). He described this as a sign that human nature can change under the influence of faith.

“God does not work miracles by chance, or only to amaze people,” the Patriarch said. He added that every miracle is connected to a specific benefit for a person—healing, salvation, and the strengthening of faith.

Daniel also linked the feast to the Gospel event on Mount Tabor, when Christ revealed His divine glory to the disciples. He said this was meant to strengthen them for the trials ahead—suffering and the Crucifixion.

In the Orthodox calendar, the Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated on August 6 (August 19 in some traditions using the New Style calendar).

Before the feast, Patriarch Daniel led a service in the town of Dupnitsa, where hundreds of faithful gathered to welcome the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming Iveron icon. He said that for many, the arrival of the shrine became a source of renewed faith.

“While among us is the wonderworking Hawaiian myrrh-streaming Iveron icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, the faith of many people has been strengthened,” Daniel said.

In his sermon, the Patriarch emphasized that in Orthodox tradition, myrrh-streaming icons are seen as a special sign of the spiritual bond between human beings and God, while the greatest miracle remains the transformation of the human heart.

“The greatest miracle is the transfiguration of the human heart,” he concluded.