Ishirini

Ishirini sings for President of Bulgaria

As pictured in Bulgarian newspaper Dnes (Today), and reported in the Orthodox Times, Ishirini sang for the President of Bulgaria during her recent visit to Bachkovo Monastery. Ishirini can also be heard in the background to this news item, recorded live on Bulgarian National TV, entitltled '633 Years Since the Fall of Tarnovo: The Bachkovo Monastery Gathered Iconographers and Pilgrims' (633 години от падането на Търново: Бачковският манастир събра зографи и поклонници).

The full article in Dnes is as follows: 

"Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova visited Bachkovo Monastery on August 23 on the occasion of the closing of the 12th Iconographic Assembly, which was once again hosted by the historic monastery.

President Yotova was welcomed at the entrance by Bishop Sioniy of Veliki, Abbot of Bachkovo Monastery, members of the monastic brotherhood, Asenovgrad Mayor Dr Hristo Grudev, and supporters of the monastery.

Bishop Sioniy accompanied the President to the monastery’s main church, where he presented the miraculous Bachkovo Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of Saint Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo, explaining their significance for the monastery and the faithful. President Yotova was presented with a copy of the miraculous icon as a commemorative gift.

The visit coincided with the presence at the monastery of the Cambridge-based choir “Eikosi” (“Twenty”). The British singers performed two sacred hymns, in Church Slavonic and English, in honor of the President and the assembled guests.

President Yotova and Bishop Sioniy then proceeded in procession, accompanied by the monastic brotherhood and choir members, to the iconography exhibition. Addressing the participants, the Bishop and the President congratulated the iconographers and encouraged them to continue expressing Orthodox spirituality through sacred art.

Yotova highlighted the particular importance of church iconographers in an increasingly technology-driven age, describing ecclesiastical art as an authentic means of reaching the hearts of the faithful and as a firm support for Bulgaria’s national and spiritual identity.

Bishop Sioniy presented the President with the “Bachkovo Monastery Charter,” dedicated to the establishment of the feast commemorating the glorification of the relics of Saint Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo. The charter is written in both Bulgarian alphabets—Glagolitic and Cyrillic—which played a foundational role in the development of Orthodox Slavic civilization.

On behalf of the participating artists, the president of the exhibition, Elena Digboyushka, thanked the monastery and Bishop Sioniy for their hospitality and support. She presented Bachkovo Monastery with an icon of the Baptism of Christ and a carved medallion depicting the Prophet Elijah.

Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria"

Orthodox Times, Aug 25, 2026

Initial Image credit: Dnes

The translation of the BNT news item is as follows:

"In the Bachkovo Monastery 'Dormition of the Mother of God,' an iconographic assembly is taking place, dedicated to the 633rd anniversary of the fall of Tarnovo under Ottoman rule and the exile of Patriarch Euthymius. President Iliana Iotova is also visiting the holy cloister. Galena Paskova now with more information."

Galena: "Greetings from the Bachkovo Holy Cloister. Yes, indeed, President Iliana Iotova was welcomed here by the entire church clergy – personally by Bishop Sioni of Velichka, abbot of the Bachkovo Monastery. Upon her arrival, she was greeted and entered the main church of the Bachkovo Monastery, where she prayed before the miraculous icon of the Holy Mother of God, and also bowed before the relics of Saint Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo, which, as you know, are preserved in the Bachkovo Monastery. Afterward, together with the bishop, they led a procession that included all the iconographers from this annual church assembly here at the Bachkovo Monastery, to the exhibition where a welcoming address was given by President Iotova. In her speech to the participants, she stated: "Dear iconographers, you create memory and continue the memory of Bulgaria, because this art has been in Bulgaria since the very first days of the adoption of Christianity." For his part, Bishop Sioni presented President Iotova with a diploma glorifying the relics of Patriarch Euthymius, written in Cyrillic and Glagolitic, stating that these are the two alphabets associated with Bulgaria worldwide to this day."

Bishop Sioni: ...a holiday that will remain in the memories and chronicles of the Holy Cloister, but a holiday that we are now experiencing with great joy, because we see the Bulgarian state and the Bulgarian church united as one. A good example that has recently been observed everywhere in our homeland."

Iliana Iotova: "I want to wish you much success from here on, to keep making us happy, to create images in which a person needs to remain alone, to think of themselves, to seek paths that their soul needs. Because no matter how much we communicate with machines today, there are moments when we can say something only to ourselves before an icon, to pray for humility, for reconciliation, and for the future of our country. Be blessed, continue to be our spiritual guide moving forward."

Galena: "The iconographic assembly has been held at the Bachkovo Monastery since the time when Bishop Sioni has been head of the monastery. This year there are 40 participants with exceptionally beautiful icons, achievements of icon-painting using both old and new techniques. And one curious detail with which I will conclude: one of the icons will be presented in the autumn to the new Georgian Patriarch Ilia III. It is being gifted on the occasion of the anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Georgia and Armenia. Embedded within the icon itself is a particle of the holy relics of Patriarch Euthymius, which were gifted personally by Bishop Sioni. Nade."

Nade: "Galena, thank you for this live report."