Russian soldiers who fought for the liberation of Bulgaria are commemorated on Shipka Pass

On 30 August 2011, the commemoration day of the Holy and Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Galaktion of Stara Zagora invited hegumen Filipp (Vasiltsev), rector of the St. Nicholas metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia, to take part in divine service at the Church of the Nativity of Christ on the Shipka Pass.

After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Galaktion warmly welcomed hegumen Filipp and hieromonk Zotik (Gayevsky), secretary of the metochion. His Eminence spoke of indissoluble fraternal relations between the Russians and the Bulgarians tightened by the heroic deed of the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers. Hegumen Filipp cordially thanked the hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for his invitation to common prayer and noted that an example of St. Alexander Nevsky is topical even today, while a heroic deed of the Russians and the Bulgarians has an intransient importance for the two nations.

Father rector donated an icon of St. Alexander Nevsky to the monastery church.

A requiem service was celebrated in the crypt for the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers who gave their life for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.

By tradition, clerics of the Russian metochion take part in divine service celebrated on this day at the monastery of the Nativity of Christ on Shipka built in 1885-1902.