The Bulgarian government welcomes the rapprochement between the Bulgarian Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev held an official meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel, Primate of the Bulgarian Church, during which the parties discussed the role of Orthodoxy in modern society, as well as strengthening cooperation between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople. This was reported by MediaMall.

During the dialogue, Rumen Radev emphasized that, amid current international tensions, faith serves as an important pillar of support for citizens and helps preserve moral values. The prime minister expressed his gratitude to the patriarch for his peacemaking efforts and personal contribution to the development of intergovernmental dialogue, also noting the role of spiritual leaders in overcoming historical differences, in particular, in the return of Tsar Samuel’s remains to Bulgaria.

In turn, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the two Churches for the entire Orthodox world. The two sides exchanged congratulations: the Patriarch marked the 35th anniversary of his enthronement, while Radev expressed hope that this visit would give new impetus to bilateral relations. At the conclusion of the meeting, Bartholomew invited the head of the Bulgarian government to visit the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

It should be recalled that during the Divine Liturgy at the Rila Monastery on October 19, 2026, a high-profile incident occurred: the faithful present in the church responded with shouts of “Anathema!” when Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople commemorated Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the OCU.