Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil Concludes First Peaceful Visit to Ecumenical Patriarchate

BTA team

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil leads festive liturgy at the Bulgarian Orthodox St Stephen Church in Istanbul, December 27, 2025 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Istanbul, Turkiye,

28.12.2025 16:30

(BTA)

Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil concluded his first peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople with prayerful participation in the Divine Liturgy at the historic Church of St Stephen (San Stefano) in Istanbul’s Yesilkoy district. The service was led by Archimandrite Charalambos Nichev, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul. The visit included joint services, brotherly meetings, and events at significant ecclesiastical and historical sites, and was marked by a spirit of understanding, dialogue, and unity.

Speaking at the close of the visit, Patriarch Daniil emphasized the central message carried back to Bulgaria: “As heirs to our ancestors, we today are obliged to do everything possible to preserve that which unites us, namely, the peace that the Lord grants us and to which He has called us to strive to safeguard.”

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew described the visit as historically significant and warmly welcomed the Bulgarian Patriarch’s presence, emphasizing its importance for Church relations. Addressing the media, he stated: “The visit of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil contributes to the strengthening of the bond between the Church of Constantinople and the Bulgarian Church.”

Both Patriarchates highlighted the visit as a clear expression of shared faith, brotherly communion, and renewed commitment to Orthodox unity and cooperation.

On December 25, the first day of Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia Metropolitan Daniil’s peaceful visit to Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, the delegation 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.

“With great joy and a heart that glorifies the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, He who steers the ship of His Holy Church, we welcome you, most blessed brother, together with your distinguished delegation, to the courtyards of ever-radiant Fener,” Bartholomew said, addressing his guest.

“We, the Holy Synod, thank you for the warm welcome and believe that the coming days of our visit to the Ecumenical Throne will be filled with grace and brotherly love, bearing clear witness to our unity in the faith and the hope we share. We come here in peace and with good will, and with the good pledge of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and we rejoice that this is possible,” Daniil responded.

Patriarch Daniil and Patriarch Bartholomew concelebrated a divine liturgy at the Church of St George the Great Martyr in Istanbul’s Fener borough on December 26.

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. He also thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for continuing the tradition of cooperation established by previous church leaders.

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.

On December 27, the feast day of St Stephen the Protomartyr, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil led a festive liturgy at the Bulgarian Orthodox St Stephen Church in Istanbul. In his sermon, Patriarch Daniil said the Iron Church is a lasting reminder that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Bulgarian Patriarchate remain united at their core. He stressed that Christian life calls believers to faithful service in the present, without forgetting history but without living in it, and noted that St Stephen Church symbolizes the Bulgarian people’s aspirations for dignity, freedom and both ecclesiastical and state independence.

Later on Saturday, Patriarch Daniil visited the local community of Orthodox Bulgarians at the Church of St John of Rila at the Bulgarian Exarchate in the city. The Patriarch warmly addressed the gathering and as a sign of gratitude to the Bulgarian community, presented the church with a relic of Saint Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo.

Between December 25 and 28, 2025, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil paid his first official visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, part of the traditional post-election "peaceful visits" or visit of canonical communion to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and other local churches.

/RD/