Delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate visits the Patriarch of Bulgaria
On Monday, 17 February 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria received His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Archimandrite Aetios, the Grand Ecclesiarch and Director of the Office of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The meeting took place at the Synodal Palace and was attended by Their Eminences. Metropolitan Gregory of Veliko Tarnovo, Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokopi, Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora, and His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Melnik.
At the beginning of the meeting, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel conveyed the fraternal greetings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and expressed the support and good relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as well as the good will for cooperation on various issues of common ecclesiastical importance.
“We hope that good relations will develop during your patriarchal ministry,” said Metropolitan Emmanuel.
Patriarch Daniel, for his part, expressed his gratitude that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was personally present at his enthronement.
During the meeting, current issues of the Orthodox Church and its spiritual mission in the world were raised – the dialogue between the Local Churches, the upcoming celebrations in connection with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, as well as other issues of mutual interest. His All-Holiness and the members of the Holy Synod who participated in the meeting highlighted as an example the dialogue and diplomacy in interreligious relations in Bulgaria. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel informed Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel about the changes to the Law regarding Religions, adopted by the National Assembly at the beginning of the year in connection with the attempt to legalise a parallel Orthodox Church in Bulgaria and its registration.
At the end of the meeting, His Beatitude recalled the decision of the Synod to award the Order of “Saint John of Rila” to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his assistance and support in resolving the sad schism of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church at the end of the last century.
At the end of the meeting, commemorative gifts were exchanged.
