His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Sofia and All Bulgaria led a Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Saint John of Rila in Germany, commemorating the 26 Zograf Martyrs of Mount Athos. The service was attended by priests from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and monks from Mount Athos, reports the Sofia Metropolis website.

Patriarch Daniel was joined by Bishop Ioann of Branitsa, vicar of the Sofia Metropolis, Archimandrite Gavriil, abbot of the Zograf Monastery, as well as Metropolitan clergy and Protodeacon Ivan Petkov. The liturgical chants were performed by Father Pimen (abbot of the monastery), Stavrofor Banker Kiril Didov, Banker Stilian Tabakov, and Monk Theodosios from Mount Athos.

In his sermon, Patriarch Daniel spoke of the Zograf Martyrs, 26 monks who refused to accept the "Filioque" doctrine (that the Holy Spirit proceeds not only from the Father but also from the Son) and who suffered for the purity of the Orthodox faith. He reminded the congregation that these martyrs chose to endure suffering rather than compromise their beliefs, highlighting their steadfastness in preserving the dogmatic purity of the Church.

The Patriarch emphasized that a Christian's life is a balance of joy and struggle: even in times of trial, one must thank God and strive to live by faith. He urged the faithful to preserve doctrinal purity and not to succumb to teachings that distort the faith entrusted to them, quoting the Apostle Paul: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

The Zograf Martyrs, 26 Athonite monks and laypeople, were martyred in 1275 at the Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos for their refusal to accept the Union of Lyons (1274), which recognized the supremacy of the Pope in exchange for political support from the West. After Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos signed the union with Rome, many Athonite monasteries rejected it as a betrayal of the Orthodox faith. When Latin troops arrived at the Zograf Monastery, the monks refused to sign the unionist confession or to mention the Pope's name during the Divine Liturgy. In retaliation, the invaders set fire to the monastery tower, where Abbot Thomas, 22 monks, and 4 laypeople had taken refuge. All perished in the flames, boldly confessing the name of Christ.

The feast of the 26 Zograf Martyrs is celebrated on October 10 (September 27 on the old calendar). They are revered as symbols of unwavering faith and the uncompromising defense of the Orthodox dogma regarding the Holy Spirit's procession "from the Father," in contrast to the Catholic teaching of Filioque ("and from the Son"). The site of their martyrdom, the Zograf Martyrs' Tower on Mount Athos, is still preserved and is a destination for annual pilgrimages and religious services.