site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian and Ecumenical Patriarchs Hold Joint Service in Historic Istanbul Visit
Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil and Sofia Metropolitan Daniil paid his first peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, where he and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew concelebrated a solemn divine liturgy at the Church of St George the Great Martyr in Istanbul’s Fener borough.
Patriarch Bartholomew noted that the historical ties between the Bulgarian Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople go back to the 9th century and emphasized the enduring friendship and spiritual connection between the two churches despite past difficulties. He highlighted previous moments of reconciliation and shared leadership between the churches over the decades, noting that unity has always been preserved.
Patriarch Daniil thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for hosting him and for the opportunity to celebrate the service together. He stressed that this visit strengthens the ongoing cooperation and spiritual unity between the Bulgarian Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reported.
The Bulgarian Patriarch stressed the importance of the church speaking out for peace, justice, and human dignity in today’s troubled world. He said that living together in unity and mutual respect allows the church to fulfill its mission and that the visit strengthens the bonds between the Bulgarian Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He also thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for continuing the tradition of cooperation established by previous church leaders.
Both leaders also reflected on the broader significance of peace, unity, and shared traditions, and Patriarch Bartholomew noted that Bulgaria’s new euro coins featuring St. John of Rila symbolize the strong connection between the Bulgarian people and their Orthodox faith.
At the conclusion of the liturgy, as a gesture of friendship and remembrance, Patriarch Daniil presented Patriarch Bartholomew with a gift set of engolpia and a pectoral cross, and also gifted a relic of Saint Euthymius of Tarnovo. In return, Patriarch Bartholomew gave Patriarch Daniil a pastoral staff to guide the Bulgarian people.
Among those attending the liturgy was Bulgarian News Agency Director General Kiril Valchev. Patriarch Daniil was accompanied by a delegation including 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 Bulgarian Patriarch was officially welcomed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchate on Thursday. The occasion was the first peaceful visit of Bulgarian Patriarch to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul’s Fener borough.
/MY/
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