Phanar delegation pays a visit to Bulgarian Patriarch

On February 17, 2025, the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Daniel, met in Sofia with representatives of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The visitors from Phanar were led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon. This is reported by the BOC website.

It is reported that during the meeting they discussed topical issues related to the Orthodox Church and its mission in the world – the dialogue between local Churches, the upcoming celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and other issues of mutual interest.

Patriarch Daniel and the members of the Holy Synod who attended the meeting noted the example of dialogue and diplomacy in interreligious relations in Bulgaria. Patriarch Daniel informed Metropolitan Emmanuel about the changes to the Law on Religious Freedom adopted by the National Assembly earlier this year, which relate to the attempt to legalize a parallel Orthodox Church in Bulgaria and its registration.

At the end of the reception, the Patriarch recalled the decision of the Holy Synod to award Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the Order of St. John of Rila for his help and support in resolving the unfortunate schism in the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria since the end of the last century.

Earlier, we reported that representatives of the theological academic community and the political establishment in Bulgaria criticized the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for its decision to award Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople with the Order of St. John of Ryla, first class. Critics of this decision of the Synod of the BOC consider the awarding of the head of Phanar on behalf of the Bulgarian Church inappropriate due to his actions that do not meet the interests of Orthodoxy, including in the situation with Ukraine.