On the night before the Day of the Holy Cross:Thousands of believers gather in the Rhodope mountains

Thousands of believers from all over the country are gathering in the evening on September 13 in the area of Krastova Gora (Forest of the Cross) in the central Rhodope Mountain.

Under the open sky, with prayers for health, they will welcome the great Christian holiday of the Day of the Holy Cross on September 14.

Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv conducted the festive services and blessed the attendees with the crucifix, in which a piece of Christ's cross is embedded.

The Divine Liturgy will begin at midnight in the church in the Forest of the Cross.

According to tradition, it is on the night before the feast that the healing power of the Forest of the Cross is particularly strong.

"May the grace, power and action of the Holy Life-Giving Cross be upon our pious people for health, prosperity and spiritual salvation," said Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv.

"It is an incredible feeling, I simply cannot describe it. Everything we have wished for has come true here," said a believer.