On September 20, an evening prayer was said and a Patriarchal Wish was made in observance of the 25^th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia during a ceremony officiated by Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria, Fr. Archimandrite Isahak Poghosyan and with the participation of clergymen at the St. Mary Church in Sofia, as reported the press divan of the Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria to Hayern Aysor.

After the prayer, His Holiness congratulated the attendees and gave a sermon in which he touched upon spiritual life, as well as the importance and hierarchy of the holiday.

Among the participants of the evening ceremony were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Bulgaria Armen Sargsyan and his wife, all staff members of the Armenian Embassy, representatives of the benevolent and non-governmental organizations of Sofia and faithful Armenians.

Photos by Mary Kanalyan