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Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil: "Only One Orthodox Church Can Exist in a Canonical Territory"

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil, during his first visit to the Rila Monastery "Pokrov Bogorodichen," emphasized that according to church rules, only one Orthodox church can exist within a canonical territory. He stated this in preparation for the name day of Abbess Melenia, the igumena of the monastery, reports Bulgarian Patriarchate for BTA.

According to Patriarch Daniil, the Law on Confessions clearly states that the traditional faith in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, under the Bulgarian Patriarchate, is its representative.

Expressing astonishment at the recent decision, Patriarch Daniil reminisced about a similar incident in 2012 when the court sought the stance of the Holy Synod on the registration of a new church.

"That court could have familiarized itself with the stance of the Holy Synod, which states that this case cannot be handled like registering new trade associations by slightly altering their names. In this case, we’re dealing with a mixing of legal entities," Patriarch Daniil explained. He further stated that, by law, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is inseparably connected to the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, thus maintaining communion with other local Orthodox churches, which is a prerequisite for being considered an Orthodox Church.

"This decision seems to turn the clock back. In the past, when the split of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church occurred, the church had to explain to the state that an Orthodox church is one that maintains communion with other Orthodox churches. That’s why a Holy Synod was convened in 1998," Patriarch Daniil noted, questioning the basis and origin of the recent decision.

Title: Bulgarian Transwoman Petya lodge second lawsuit in Strasbourg, determined to change documents

Petya, originally registered as Petrov, has started the new year with a wish that transcends the normatives of documental formalities. She yearns to have her gender and name officially changed in her ID and passport, with the hope that 2024 will bring forth the necessary alterations.

Petya, a transgender Bulgarian woman, made headlines last year after successfully suing Bulgaria in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) for refusal to amend her documents. The final verdict was passed on September 27, 2023, ordering Bulgaria to pay €7,500 in damages and altering Petya’s documents within three months. Despite the ruling, Petya’s official documents still reflect her birth name and male gender, leading to continuous difficulties in her daily life. Her struggle for recognition began in 2018, marked with rejections from Bulgarian courts and prolonged legal procedures. Unyielding, Petya, a graduate in English philology and applied linguistics, has once again filed a lawsuit, challenging the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Cassation to uphold the regional court’s refusal to change her gender and name.

In an interview with Bulgaria Dnes, Petya expressed her unwavering determination, "I won’t give up! I’m continuing the fight. I’ve filed another lawsuit against Bulgaria in Strasbourg. My application has been received and is under consideration. I’m confident it will proceed."

Petya’s journey includes a full gender reassignment surgery in Greece, a process she underwent to align her body with her gender identity. Her personal mission now extends beyond legal recognition; she aims to find steady employment and lead a normal life. "I have a mission, I’m pursuing it. I’ve accomplished so much – books, education, astrology, and now I’m taking acting classes. Work is gradually picking up," she shared.

Petya’s ambitions extend beyond Bulgaria. After completing her acting courses in the country, she traveled to Turkey, where she participated in several photoshoots with a renowned local photographer. She also made appearances on Turkish television, establishing herself as a recognizable figure in the neighboring country. By 2025, Petya plans to realize her dream of changing her documents and forging a career in the film industry.

Petya’s Heart Yearns for Love

Petya’s pursuit of acting skills is heavily influenced by her admiration for Turkish actor Ali Duran. "I feel an inexplicable attraction towards him. I know it’s not a coincidence. For the new year, I wish for health and love. My biggest dream is to star in a movie alongside Ali," Petya confessed.

Although they have not communicated directly, Petya and Ali follow each other on social media. Petya hopes that one day their paths will cross, allowing their connection to blossom into something more.

Tipper insensitive to fines: Repeatedly driving despite license revocations

Sofia, Bulgaria – A.Driver from Sliven has been issued fines totaling over 17,000 Lev for persistent traffic law violations, mostly for speeding. With 45 infringements recorded and his driver’s license revoked multiple times since 2001, the driver’s prolific disregard for traffic laws has raised concerns among Bulgarian authorities.

Commissioner Dimitar Kiketov, head of "Oхraнителна полиция," detailed the driver’s history: " His license has been revoked a total of three times, with one instance involving the presentation of a foreign driving license. Currently, another license revocation is imminent."

The mechanism allowing this driver to return to the roads after paying fines and passing a retest has been criticized. Commissioner Kiketov explained: " The issue lies in the driver’s ability to regain driving privileges after just six months, provided they’ve paid all fines and passed the exam."

Since 2009, the driver has accumulated fines with a cash value of 17,275 Lev, of which 8,300 Lev have been paid, leaving an outstanding amount of 8,900 Lev, mostly from 2022. While the driver’s identity remains confidential, police urge drivers to familiarize themselves with their infraction history and the corresponding loss of points.

Remarkably, during the periods of active license, the driver amassed a total of 168 demerits, indicating an attitude of indifference towards traffic laws and safety.

Title: Bulgaria‘s Government Talks: Bizarre, Corruption Concerns, and Political Prosecution?

In a recent appearance on Bulgaria On Air’s "Key People" show, Professor Daniel Vulchev offered a candid perspective on Bulgaria’s ongoing government negotiations, sparking a conversation about corruption and political influence in the country.

Vulchev began by acknowledging the peculiar nature of the talks, stating, "Strange things happen in these negotiations, but at least we might have a government, and that’s a good thing to have a government." However, his optimism was tempered by his next statement: "Corruption is, of course, a problem for Bulgaria. I’m not trying to be malicious, but you have to mention that some of those now negotiating have accused each other of being among the most corrupt in the world."

The professor went on to assert that the prosecutor’s office is inherently a political player, not just in Bulgaria but universally. He raised questions about the timing of certain cases, using the example of the recent legal issues faced by former U.S. President Donald Trump: "How come these cases suddenly started right when it became clear that Trump might run again for President of the United States? This isn’t uncommon, but what’s different in Bulgaria is that we do it in a more scandalous and belligerent way, and also, that there’s this idea that some people have the right to do it, while others don’t."

As Bulgaria awaits the formation of its next government, the public remains vigilant about the influence of corruption in politics and the political use of the justice system.

Title: Power Crisis in Gabrovo Municipality: Mayor Demands Action

In a recent press conference, Mayor of Gabrovo, Tanya Hristova, expressed her outrage at the ongoing power outages affecting tens of settlements in the municipality. Following a meeting with Bulgaria‘s Minister of Energy, Vladimir Malinov, the mayor demanded stricter control and investment in the energy distribution network.

"Three days without power for the entire municipality, including villages, is unacceptable," Hristova declared. She attributed the crises to poor condition of the electricity grid and emphasized the need for greater involvement of local governments in approving and coordinating energy companies’ investment plans.

Hristova stressed the importance of ensuring the network’s stability before each winter season, stating that such widespread outages hadn’t occurred in the last 10-15 years. She also called for compensations for businesses affected by the outages and urged for modernizing the grid to meet contemporary standards, including underground cabling to ensure reliability during winter.

The mayor reported that around 30 settlements and six to eight city districts were still without power, with the situation remaining dynamic. She criticized the energy regulating body, ERC, for not providing timely support, which could have expedited the resolution of the issues. Although emergency measures were taken to keep roads passable and provide assistance, Hristova ruled out declaring a state of emergency.

Earlier today, Gabrovo residents took to the streets in a spontaneous protest, demanding continuous and quality power supply to their homes. The protest was sparked by frequent power cuts, with many residents left without electricity on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The outages have frustrated residents, with one protester commenting, "We’ve had enough of being left in the dark during the holidays. We deserve reliable power supply." Another resident added, "Our demand is simple: fix the power grid and keep the lights on."

Residents of Kystendil and Nearby Villages Gather to Mourn Teenager Killed in Horse-Car Crash

Residents from Kystendil and surrounding villages gathered on the Kystendil-Sofia road, close to the site of a tragic accident, which claimed the life of an 18-year-old girl in a collision with a horse drawn carriage early yesterday morning, according to Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA).

In a sign of respect, the gathered community observed a minute of silence, knelt down, and laid flowers to honor Adi, who was set to be an graduate this academic year.

Kystendil Mayor Ognyan Atanasov and Municipal Council Chairman Dimitar Velichkov were present at the scene. The residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the ongoing issue of horses crossing the busy Kystendil-Sofia road, a concern that has remained unresolved for years.

Mayor Atanasov addressed the crowd, acknowledging the issue but emphasizing that the road and the adjacent lands are not under the municipal jurisdiction. He assured that the municipality has installed 10 km of electric fencing and plans to repair the street lighting at its own expense, with a permit obtained from the Road Infrastructure Agency, by January 2025.

Atanasov undertook to organize a meeting with all relevant institutions to tackle the animal-related issue on the road. A woman close to the family proposed another gathering on January 4th at 12:00 PM to discuss the progress made, inviting all responsible institutions to attend.

Bulgaria Braces for Winter Chill: Snow, Rain, and Mists Expected Over the Holidays

As the year draws to a close and the new one begins, Bulgaria is set to experience a mix of snow, rain, and mists, according to TV-MET’s chief synoptic, Petar Yanukov. Here’s what to expect in the coming days.

Friday, December 24: Chilly and Wet

• Morning: Expect temperatures ranging from -5°C to 0°C in central regions, dropping to -6°C to -7°C in higher western areas, and hovering around 0°C to 1°C along the Black Sea coast.
• Daytime: Cloudy skies with rain and snow expected. Western and northern regions may see wet snow, while southern and eastern areas could experience rain and snow, with thunderstorms possible in Dobrudja.
• Evening: Rain will gradually subside, but clouds will persist. Western and northern settlements may see snow depths of 7-10 cm, and up to 10-15 cm in western Bulgaria.
• Wind: Strong winds from the northeast, with speeds up to 60-65 km/h.
• Temperatures: Maximum temperatures ranging from -1°C to 5°C, with the Black Sea coast reaching up to 3°C.

Saturday, December 25: More Snow and Rain

• Morning: Temperatures will range from -4°C to 1°C in central regions, and up to 1-2°C along the Black Sea coast.
• Daytime: Cloudy skies with rain and snow expected, particularly in northern and eastern regions.
• Evening: Rain will gradually subside, but clouds will persist. Western and northern settlements may see snow depths of 7-13 cm.
• Wind: Winds will weaken to light to moderate speeds, up to 25-30 km/h.
• Temperatures: Maximum temperatures ranging from 1°C to 6°C, with the Black Sea coast reaching up to 4-5°C.

Sunday, December 26: Mists and Snow

• Morning: Temperatures will range from -5°C to 0°C in central regions, dropping to -7°C in western areas, and reaching up to 2°C along the Black Sea coast.
• Daytime: Cloudy skies with rain and snow expected, particularly in northern and eastern regions.
• Evening: Rain will gradually subside, but clouds will persist. Western and northern settlements may see snow depths of 7-13 cm.
• Wind: Light to moderate winds from the north, with speeds up to 25-30 km/h.
• Temperatures: Maximum temperatures ranging from 1°C to 6°C.

Monday, December 27: Mists and Mild Temperatures

• Daytime: Mists will be more persistent. Daytime temperatures in western Bulgaria will range from -1°C to 6°C, reaching up to 7-8°C in eastern areas.

Tuesday, December 28: New Year’s Eve

• Morning: Mists and low clouds expected along the Black Sea coast.
• Daytime: More sunshine expected. Temperatures will rise, with higher elevations and mountainous regions feeling the warmth more noticeably. Maximum temperatures above 2500m will range from -4°C to -2°C, and 1500m will see temperatures from 1°C to 4°C. In settlements, maximum temperatures will reach 4°C to 9°C.

New Year’s Night: Clear Skies in the West, Clouds in the East

• Night: Eastern Bulgaria will see increased cloud cover, but no rain is expected. Western and central regions will be clear with temperatures around 0°C to 1°C.

Wednesday, January 1, Thursday, January 2, and Friday, January 3: Mists and Sunshine

• Daytime: Mists will be frequent, but afternoons will see more sunshine. Traditional warmer areas may see daytime temperatures above 10°C.

Title: Over 200 Bulgarian Settlements Without Power: DPS-NN Demands Investigation

In a shocking revelation, DPS-Novo Nasledstvo (DPS-NN) has condemned the current power situation in Bulgaria, stating that over 200 populated areas have been without electricity, a scandalous figure that has left residents struggling, especially during the holidays.

In a statement to the media, DPS-NN stated, "It’s alarming that the minister is ‘scaring’ the ERPs, the very entities responsible for these outages. There’s been no reprieve for these people, with the temperatures dropping and no stable power supply to keep them warm."

The party has urged the Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) to immediately launch an investigation into the investments and technical security of the power grids. They emphasized that Bulgarian citizens have paid for 24/7 power supply and any continued crisis should result in stringent penalties, including the revocation of licenses for the companies involved.

"If KEVR doesn’t take immediate action, we will involve all competent authorities for a full-scale investigation of the electricity distribution companies," the statement reads.

DPS-NN stresses that there is no excuse for such widespread power outages in 21st-century Europe. They demand accountability and offenders to be held responsible.

The party’s harsh criticism comes amidst ongoing power shortages during the severe winter, leaving thousands of Bulgarians in the cold and dark. The current situation is raising questions about the effectiveness of the country’s power distribution system and the regulatory bodies responsible for ensuring stable supply.