site.btaPatriarch Daniil Meets Orthodox Bulgarian Community at the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul
In keeping with an ancient Bulgarian tradition, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil was welcomed on Saturday, with bread and salt by the community of Orthodox Bulgarians at the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul’s Sisli district.
On the third day of his first peaceful visit to Istanbul, at the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Daniil visited the local community of Orthodox Bulgarians in the city.
The meeting with the Patriarch and his delegation, which included metropolitans Anthony of Western and Central Europe, John of Varna and Veliko Preslav, Naum of Ruse, Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Gregory of Vratsa, Pachomius of Vidin, and Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, took place at the Church of St John of Rila at the Bulgarian Exarchate. Among the official guests were Vice President Iliana Iotova, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev, Consul General of Bulgaria in Istanbul Vassil Valchev, Tourism Attache Teodora Taskova and consular officials.
The Bulgarian Patriarch was welcomed by members of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation of the Orthodox Churches of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul, headed by Dimitri Yotef, as well as by the priest of the Bulgarian churches in Turkiye, Archimandrite Charalambos Nichev.
Patriarch Daniil warmly addressed the gathering and as a sign of gratitude to the Bulgarian community, presented the Church of St John of Rila with a relic of Saint Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo.
“It is a great blessing for us today to be at the Bulgarian Exarchate, in this chapel dedicated to Saint John of Rila, a holy place connected with so many aspirations, prayers and struggles for achieving the independence of the Bulgarian Church through the Bulgarian Exarchate. Thankfully, those hardships have been overcome, and today we have the opportunity not only to worship together with the Bulgarian community, but also with all Orthodox Christians in this majestic city, striving to ensure that nothing divides us, seeking ways to clarify difficulties, and trying to fulfil God’s will, to be united in truth, faith and love,” Patriarch Daniil said.
In his address, he emphasised gratitude to the predecessors of Bulgarian national and spiritual life, who devoted their strength and lives to the good of the Church, the people and the homeland, helping today’s generations to follow their path, highlighting the legacy of Patriarch Euthymius.
On behalf of the Bulgarian community in Istanbul, Dimitri Yotef presented Patriarch Daniil with a staff adorned with gilded inlays as a commemorative gift marking his visit to the Bulgarian Exarchate.
Theology professor Ivan Zhelev, former head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, who is closely connected with the Bulgarian Exarchate, shared his impressions of Patriarch Daniil’s visit to Istanbul with BTA.
“I have been to the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul many times, and we have always supported the Bulgarian community in this Bosphorus city in every way we could, because it deserves it. But this visit is different. This year’s feast of the Iron Church will be remembered for the visit of Patriarch Daniil and the Divine Liturgy. It is a very meaningful and fortunate coincidence, because according to the unwritten rules of Orthodoxy, a patriarch should visit all Orthodox Churches, starting with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and he arrived here precisely on the feast of St Stephen of the Bulgarian community. Thus, he is not only fulfilling a protocol obligation, known as a peaceful visit, dedicated to peace between Churches and among people, but also visiting the Bulgarian community. It is truly moving, as the Psalm says: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together,” understood here in the broader sense of people living together,” Zhelev told BTA.
According to him, a particularly strong impression was made by the emphasis Patriarch Daniil placed in his messages on spirituality and the spiritual message of the Christian faith. “I must especially note that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew showed great attention to this visit. Today, he came to the Bulgarian Exarchate, to be with the Bulgarian community, to share in the joy of his brother, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil, as we say in the language of the Church,” Zhelev added.
The first peaceful visit of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil to Istanbul concludes Sunday.
/RD/
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