site.btaBulgarian Patriarch Daniil Meets Metropolitan Grigorios of Antiochian Orthodox Church

A meeting was held today at the Synodal Palace between His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil and His Eminence Grigorios Abdallah Khoury, Metropolitan of Homs (Emesa). The meeting took place in a spirit of mutual respect, understanding, and brotherly solidarity, with sincere gratitude expressed for the good and warm relations with the Bulgarian community in the United Arab Emirates, which is within the diocese of the Antiochian Church, as well as for the hospitality that we have always received. His Eminence conveyed the fraternal greetings of the Antiochian Patriarch, His Beatitude John X, to His Holiness Patriarch Daniil and to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate.

It should be recalled that at its meeting on February 16, 2021, Protocol No. 1 – full membership, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate, at the request of Orthodox Bulgarians residing permanently in the United Arab Emirates, particularly in Dubai, entrusted the Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe, Anthony, with taking all necessary steps to establish a Bulgarian Orthodox church community in Dubai.

Many Christians from around the world live and work in the UAE, where there are already permanent Orthodox clergy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Our Bulgarian community is also alive and active – around 3,000 Bulgarians live in Dubai, of whom between 70 and 100 are regular parishioners. The Orthodox church community in the UAE bears the name of St. John of Rila the Miracle Worker – patron saint of the Bulgarian people – and is supported by the Antiochian Patriarchate.

During the meeting, a number of important issues were discussed, including the difficult situation of Christians in Syria after the war, who are facing severe trials but do not lose hope and trust in God. Metropolitan Grigorios appealed to the Holy Patriarch, as well as to all Orthodox Christians, to pray for the Antiochian Orthodox Church, which is in need of support, and he expressed gratitude for the consistent position of the Holy Synod in defense of the Christian population of the country.

His Holiness, in turn, also asked the Christians of the Antiochian Church to pray for the Bulgarian people, "for the confessors of the faith are closer to Christ." "With common faith, mutual respect, and unity, we can continue building bridges between our peoples and churches," Patriarch Daniil added.

The meeting was attended by His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe; His Grace Gerasim, Bishop of Melnik and Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod; Ivan Yordanov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Abu Dhabi, UAE; Archimandrite Parthenius of the Antiochian Orthodox Church; and others.

The meeting concluded with hope for a joyful and grace-filled celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Symbolic gifts were exchanged.

BTA publishes this text pursuant to Art. 5, para. 1, item 3 and para. 3 of the Bulgarian News Agency Act.