Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel declares "unchanging unity" with the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel, during his visit to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, emphasized the «deep and unchanging unity» between the two Churches, despite the difficulties in the past, and called for a focus on service, love and doing good in the present.

According to Glasove.com, the speech was delivered on the third day after Christmas, when the memory of the first martyr Archbishop Stephen is also celebrated. Patriarch Daniel noted that St. Stephen, being the first deacon and the first martyr, always reminds Christians of the vocation to serve God and the people, as well as the confessional and martyrdom of the Christian title. «At any time and in any place, each of us must be ready to undergo trials and suffering for our faith,» the patriarch emphasized.

His Holiness also touched upon the historical destinies of both Churches, noting that they are «adorned with the feat of confession and nourished by rivers of precious martyr’s blood.» Acknowledging that relations between the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Bulgarian Church «have not been problem-free» for a long period of time — as he said the Church of St. Stephen, also known as the «Iron Church,» reminds us — Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the Churches remain united in their deepest essence as members of the Body of Christ.

Calling for learning from the lessons of the past, Patriarch Daniel strongly recommended not to live in it: «As Christians, we cannot and should not live in the past, because the faith we live and profess is an eschatological faith.» He emphasized the importance of focusing on the present, doing good, loving God and neighbor, following the Lord’s commandment not to worry about tomorrow. According to the patriarch, the faithful are expected to create the present as a church and society, as a nation and a state.

Patriarch Daniel noted with satisfaction that the modern Orthodox Bulgarian people enjoy the fruits of the labors of the Bulgarian Renaissance: Bulgaria is part of a large European family, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is in «gracious fraternal canonical communion with all sister Orthodox Churches,» realizing its duty and high responsibilities to God and the people. At the end of his speech, His Holiness emphasized the importance of the common prayer offered in the church «for the heavenly peace and salvation of all people, for the peace of the whole world, for the prosperity of the holy Churches of God and their unity.» He expressed confidence that Christ is among the Churches, and His love will always be among them.

Earlier, we reported that the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC), Patriarch Daniel, spoke on a number of topical issues related to the unity of Orthodox and Catholics and relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Patriarch Daniel paid special attention to the issue of recognizing the Ukrainian schism. The head of the BOC is convinced that the recognition of the OCU by the Patriarchate of Constantinople is not a reason to break relations with Phanar.