site.btaBulgarian Patriarch Daniil Arrives on First Peaceful Visit to Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul

Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil arrived on his first peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul on Thursday. On the church delegation are 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. 

The delegation was welcomed by Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria, Metropolitan Gregory of Ancyra, and Archimandrite Iakovos.

Later on Thursday, Patriarch Daniil and his accompanying delegation will be welcomed at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. A thanksgiving prayer service (Doxology) will be held at the Patriarchal Cathedral Church of St. George the Great Martyr in Istanbul's Phanar Quarter. Following this, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will officially receive the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and his delegation. 

The visit will end on December 28.