Headline:
Bulgarian Orthodox Church Leaders Comment on Supreme Cassation Court’s Decision on "Bulgarian Old Rite Church"
Subheading:
Patriarch Daniel discusses church unity, Ukraine’s religious division, and the European Court’s influence
Article:
Bulgarian Orthodox Church leaders have reacted to the Supreme Cassation Court’s decision to register the "Bulgarian Old Rite Church" as a recognized denomination. Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, in a visit to the Dragoman "St. Stefan" church, expressed his views on the matter to Eurocom.
"Our knowledge tells us that the Church is one," Patriarch Daniel stated. "It cannot be divided into two, three, or many. This division is distressing." He emphasized that the church’s unity is reflective of Christ’s undivided nature, and while other Orthodox churches, like the Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, and Macedonian, maintain traditional practices, they acknowledge the Bulgarian Patriarchate as the legitimate Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The Patriarch explained that the Supreme Cassation Court’s decision was made in accordance with the European Court’s ruling, which considered the claims of both the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Old Rite Church regarding their authenticity. However, he emphasized that the Court’s decision does not change the fundamental unity of the Church.
Patriarch Daniel also addressed the religious divide in Ukraine, specifically the creation of the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine" in 2019. At the time, as the Metropolitan of Vidin, he believed that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church should not recognize the new religious institution. While no official position was published by the Holy Synod, Patriarch Daniel revealed that a committee has been established to compile materials on the Ukrainian church issue, and the Holy Synod expects the matter to be resolved once the conflict in Ukraine ceases.
The Patriarch emphasized the suffering of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, where he reported incidents of persecutions, church seizures, and killings of priests. He strongly condemned these actions and urged for a swift end to the war in Ukraine.
"Anyone who claims to be Orthodox but persecutes and kills people clearly shows which church is truly Orthodox in Ukraine," Patriarch Daniel commented. His remarks underscore the complex religious dynamics at play in the region and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s stance on the matter.
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