On October 29, 2021, as part of the manifestation of marking the 700th years since the demise of St. King Stefan Milutin, a Holy Liturgy and the solemn act of layings changing of the relics of the Holy King were held, at the St. Nedelya church in Sofia.
The liturgy was led by Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik, and assisted by priests of the Bulgarian Orthodox Churhc, as well as Mardarije, abbot of the Poganovo monastery, and other priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Also, this very important event for Serbian history, state and culture was attended by the Counsellor to the President of the Republic of Serbia for Culture, Mr. Dejan Savić, representatives of the Office for Religion of the Republic of Serbia, as well as representatives from the Republic Srpska, and the representative of the Diplomatic core of Bosnia and Hercegovina. The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Sofia, was represented by Ambassador Ž. Jović and diplomatic staff. The liturgy was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, Ms. M. Belkoleva and other representatives of state institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria. Considering the anti-epidemiological measures, which prohibits the entry into the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as the organization of events with a limited number of visitors indoors, the ceremony was attended by significantly fewer citizens.
After the liturgy, traditionally, the laying of the Holy King Milutin relics were sent to a Monastery in Serbia, this year to Kosovo and Metohia, to the Monastery of Gracnica, the last one that Milutin has built.
After this ceremony, with the blessing of the Patriarch of Bulgaria, Neophyte, for the first time in 552 (as many as Milutin's relics are in Sofia), a lity was organized and the relics of St. the kings were carried through the central streets of Sofia.
For all guests from the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska, as well as for friends from the Bulgarian orthodox church and Bulgarian institutions, a reception was organized at the Serbian Embassy in Sofia.