Patriarch Bartholomew commemorates head of OCU during joint service with Primate of Bulgarian Church

on December 26, 2025, on the feast of the New Style Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos, a joint service was held in the Church of St. George in Phanar by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria. During the service, Patriarch Bartholomew commemorated the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko.

According to the Orthodox Times portal, the peaceful visit of Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria began the day before, on Wednesday, December 25, 2025. His Beatitude, accompanied by members of his delegation, arrived at Phanar shortly after 17:00 local time.

At the main entrance, Patriarch Daniel was greeted by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, as well as other metropolitans and representatives of the clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Upon arrival at the Patriarchal Church of St. George, a solemn doxology was held, led by the Bulgarian Patriarch himself.

Subsequently, Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria held an official meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew and members of the Holy and Sacred Synod in the Throne Room.

However, the visit of the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel to Phanar was not without its excesses. During the joint Divine Liturgy on Friday, December 26, the day of the Council of the Most Holy Theotokos, in the Patriarchal Church of St. George, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople commemorated the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko. This happened despite the position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the Ukrainian church issue.

Earlier, the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, made an official statement about the upcoming joint service with Patriarch Bartholomew, emphasizing that representatives of the OCU would not be present. This decision was reached by mutual agreement and reflects the consistent position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the non-recognition of the OCU.