Ecumenical Patriarch Says Bulgarian Patriarch’s Visit Deepens Church Relations

Risida Dimitrova, BTA special correspondent Emanuel Smarkov

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil at the Church of St Stephen (San Stefano) in Istanbul, December 28, 2025 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Istanbul, Turkiye,

28.12.2025 15:33

(BTA)

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew told the media covering the visit of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople that this visit has greatly contributed to "the strengthening of the bond between the Church of Constantinople and the Bulgarian Church."

On Sunday, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the prayerful participation of Patriarch Daniil in the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St Stephen (San Stefano) in Istanbul’s Yesilkoy district. The liturgy was led by the spiritual head of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul, Archimandrite Charalambos Nichev.

"It is a great joy for us to have among us this distinguished, most eminent guest, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil," the Ecumenical Patriarch said. "We spent these few days with him so pleasantly that we now regret his departure. We thank him sincerely for undertaking this peaceful visit, which already represents a historic event," Patriarch Bartholomew added.

He said that since Patriarch Daniil is "a young primate, the prayers of the Holy Church, of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, will always accompany him, so that he may lead the devout Orthodox Bulgarian people toward paths and springs of salvation, and that under his leadership the contribution of the Bulgarian Church to Orthodox unity and cooperation may always be of great value."

"It was a joy to be in communion with distinguished hierarchs and metropolitans of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, whom we have known for a long time and with whom we maintain friendly relations," the Ecumenical Patriarch added.

Addressing the representatives of the media, he said: "To you, the representatives of the mass media who are present here and who covered this event, we extend our heartfelt gratitude, and we wish everyone a blessed New Year, with peace throughout the entire world."

/RD/