Bulgarian believers call to cancel visit of BOC delegation to Phanar and joint divine services with Patriarch Bartholomew

Bulgarian believers have initiated a collection of signatures against the upcoming visit of a delegation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) headed by Patriarch Daniel to the Phanar on December 25 and its participation in joint services with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The petition, already signed by some 500 citizens, expresses deep concern about the actions and canonical status of Patriarch Bartholomew, calling on the Bulgarian hierarchs to refrain from the trip.

In an open letter addressed to the Holy Synod of the BOC, the faithful state that after recent events, particularly the joint prayer of Patriarch Bartholomew with Pope Leo XIV, Orthodox Christians «can no longer consider the canonical behavior of the host of the Phanar as normal.» This event has raised serious questions about the orthodoxy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The authors of the petition recall that as early as last year, against the background of the election of the Bulgarian Patriarch and the problems surrounding the election of Metropolitan Sliven, a group of citizens had already addressed the office of the Holy Synod with a similar request. Back then, the believers asked to refrain from joint services and prayers with Patriarch Bartholomew «because of his heretical, non-Orthodox views, concepts and acts.»

Despite previous appeals, an official delegation of the BOC Holy Synod led by the patriarch plans to travel to Istanbul on December 25, Christmas Day. The faithful emphasize that «nothing good has been happening for the Bulgarian Church there for a long time,» and call for no divine services to be held between the Bulgarian and Constantinople clergy, as «their canonical and legal status is in question.»

The faithful conclude the letter by «begging the hierarchs to listen to the voice of the faithful people of Bulgaria who are concerned about communion with a man like Patriarch Bartholomew.» They also urge their bishops to «stay in Bulgaria and take care of their flock during these bright days.» At the moment, the petition has been signed by about 500 people, which indicates the broad support for this initiative among the Orthodox in Bulgaria.

Recall, the Patriarchate of Constantinople officially announced the upcoming first visit of Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria to the Phanar. The visit of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is scheduled for Thursday, December 25, and will include a doxology, an official reception with Patriarch Bartholomew, and a joint service of the Divine Liturgy.