Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel Called for Ecclesiastical Unity Through Dialogue

Patriarch Daniel, Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, called for resolving the existing disagreements within the Church exclusively through constructive dialogue that avoids confrontation. The statement was made in Sofia during the visit to Bulgaria by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The words of the primate were reported by the in Bulgaria.

During the celebrations marking the 1,150th anniversary of the birth and the 1,080th anniversary of the repose of St. John of Rila, Patriarch Daniel emphasized that joint participation in church feasts is an important signal of the need to seek paths to mutual understanding. According to the Primate of the Bulgarian Church, the veneration of saints unites the entire Orthodox world, and drawing upon their legacy helps believers find spiritual grace, even in the face of contentious issues.

It should be noted that Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Bulgaria, which began on October 17, 2026, at the invitation of the Synod, elicited a mixed reaction from the public. Earlier, it was reported that approximately 2,300 people had signed an open letter protesting the visit of the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and accusing him of deviating from canonical norms. Despite the distinguished guest’s presence at the celebration, a joint service between the heads of the two churches was not planned.