His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte welcomed President Rumen Radev and Vice President Iliana Iotova in the Patriarchal Cathedral "St. Alexander Nevsky" and celebrated a ceremonious prayer on the occasion of their upcoming inauguration.

His Holiness greeted the Head of State with an archpastoral address with wishes for God's gracious support for peaceful and fruitful service to the Bulgarian people. The Patriarch prayed that God would bless the good intention of the President and the Vice President, who have an important and responsible work ahead of them, and grant them wisdom and skill to do their work successfully for the prosperity of our homeland and our people.

'The expectations on you will again be enormous and the responsibility that rests on your shoulders will again be extremely great,' Patriarch Neophyte said in his address.

His Holiness presented a Bible to the President and Vice President. The prayer service was attended by the President's wife, Desislava Radeva, the Vice President's husband, Prof Andrei Iotov and representatives of the Presidential Administration.

For the second time Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte personally officiated at the prayer and blessed President Radev for a successful term as Head of State.