SOFIA: March 1, 2010
The 60th Anniversary of the Death of Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) Is Remembered  

On February 28, 2010, the second Saturday of Great Lent, a funerary Liturgy in memory of Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) was celebrated at the podvorie of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia, Bulgaria. Officiating was Bishop Naum of Stoby, Secretary of the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, along with Bishop Ioann of Znepol, Vicar of the Sofia Metropoliate, who were joined by clergymen of the podvorie and of the Sofia Metropoliate.  

After the dismissal, Vladyka Ioann addressed the many attending worshipers. He noted the importance of Archbishop Seraphim not only for the Russian Church but for the Bulgarian Church as well: people from all over Bulgaria regularly gather at the tomb of Vladyka Seraphim to honor the archpastor’s memory and to seek his intercession and prayers before the Throne of the Lord. 

A pannikhida was then performed at the tomb of Archbishop Seraphim, after which, in accordance with tradition, a memorial trapeza was offered.  

Press Service of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate