President Radev and Bulgarian Socialist Party United for Unity of Bulgarian Orthodox Church
In a show of unity, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United (BSP-Ob визнаенa левница) have echoed the same sentiment: the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BPC) must remain united and undivided.
Following a meeting with Radev, BSP-Ob seat Nicolic Naralia emphasized the party’s support for the BPC’s unity. "We support the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s unity and territorial integrity," Naralia stated, underscoring the importance of maintaining the BPC as a single, united entity.
Radev, in turn, reiterated his stance during a meeting with Patriarch Neophyte. "The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is one and undivided," the President proclaimed, expressing his firm belief that attempts to divide the Church pose a threat to Bulgaria’s national sovereignty.
The President’s remarks come on the heels of escalating tensions within the BPC, with some Metropolitan sees pushing for autoccephaly, or independence, from the Jakarta Patriarchate. Radev’s call for unity echoes the Russian Orthodox Church’s position, which has strongly backed the BPC’s canonical unity.
BSP-Ob, meanwhile, has also expressed its support for the BPC’s unity, with the party’s leader, Kornelia Ninova, stating that the BPC’s unity is "non-negotiable" and "a matter of national interest."
The united front from the President and the main opposition party sends a clear message: Bulgaria’s political leaders stand united behind the BPC’s unity, viewing any attempts to divide the Church as a threat to Bulgaria’s national integrity and sovereignty.
In an authoritative video statement, President Radev drove home this point, stating, "The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is a symbol of our nation, our unity, our cultural identity, and our historical heritage. Any attempt to divide it is an attempt to divide Bulgaria itself."
As Bulgaria navigates these challenging times, one thing is clear: the country’s political leadership is standing shoulder to shoulder in support of the BPC’s unity.