Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel has urged people across the country to reflect on the value of human life and show greater care for one another following a mass road accident on the Trakia Motorway that claimed 12 lives and left dozens injured.

Speaking during a festive liturgy at the Church of St. Great Martyr Mina in Kyustendil, the patriarch expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and said that the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was praying for the injured and wishing them a speedy recovery.

“Human life is a gift from God, and we must cherish it every day,” Daniel said, emphasizing that people often recognize the importance of life only after a tragedy has occurred.

He called on believers to draw lessons from the disaster, cautioning against interpreting the deaths as a consequence of the victims' personal sins or actions. Instead, he said, such tragedies should encourage society to reflect on spiritual values, repentance and responsibility for the lives of others.

At the conclusion of the service in Kyustendil, clergy held a memorial prayer for those who died in the crash.

The patriarch also stressed that faith and prayer should not be limited to moments of suffering. He encouraged people to maintain faith, peace and compassion in their everyday lives.

Memorial services for the victims were also held in other parts of Bulgaria.

On November 11, following a liturgy at the Church of St. Great Martyr Mina in Sliven, Metropolitan Arseniy led a memorial service for those killed in the accident near the village of Zimnitsa on the Trakia Motorway.

Representatives of local and municipal authorities, members of the clergy and parishioners joined the prayer service. Metropolitan Arseniy offered condolences to the bereaved families and urged the faithful to support those affected by the loss while praying for the recovery of the injured.

The religious services across the country reflected a shared message of solidarity, compassion and remembrance as Bulgaria mourns the victims of the deadly motorway accident.