His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil today served a Trisagion (a short requiem prayer - ed.) for the dead in the tragic incident in Kochani, Republic of North Macedonia, in the Metropolitan Cathedral Church "St. Mary Nedelya".
The service was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to Bulgaria Agneza Rusi.
After the requiem, a blessing of oil was served for the healing of the injured.
"Your Excellency, brothers and sisters, we grieve together with the people of North Macedonia in these days of mourning for the loss of all the people who died in Kochani. We pray for the repose of their souls and express our sincere and deepest condolences for the misfortune that befell you. Also for God's help and support to all those who survived this tragedy, but are weak, suffering from burns," said Patriarch Daniel.
According to him, we live in days of trial, especially now, during Great Lent, and usually during this time the Devil uses to attack with even greater force, to cause even more turmoil, sorrow, confusion, and we cannot know the depth of God's providence, which directs the salvation of all of us.
In these extraordinary circumstances that occur in our lives, there is inevitably such a divine enlightenment to us for reflection and repentance - our thoughts, actions, and deeds. Because if something happened, there is no point in thinking about how we could have avoided this incident, but we can see the mistakes that led to this misfortune, said Patriarch Daniel.
He pointed out that if we accept what is happening as an occasion for our repentance, for greater attention, then the Lord will inevitably turn this tragedy to a certain benefit and salvation:
"May God strengthen the victims, we pray for their healing and may God strengthen and heal all the victims and their relatives to bear with patience and without bitterness what has happened, and to receive comfort and strength from God to overcome this ordeal," said Patriarch Daniel and noted that those who are in "Pirogov" will be anointed.