Bulgarian Church does not change its position on autocephaly in Ukraine

Patriarch Neophyte at a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation

This is evidenced by the results of the recent meeting of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Neophyte with the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Rostislav Pavlenko.

During the reception, the Special Envoy of the President of Ukraine on Religious Affairs explained in detail to His Holiness and the Highly Reputed Metropolitans the situation in Ukraine regarding the church question and added that since 1991 Ukraine has been struggling for its church independence, reports the site of the BOC.

His Holiness said that the relevant issues had been repeatedly discussed at sessions of the Holy Synod of the BOC and he had repeatedly stated his position on the matter. 

General Secretary of the Holy Synod Bishop Gerasim of Melnik stressed that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is well acquainted with the Ukrainian situation and its complexity, but it is necessary to strictly observe the ecclesiastical canons, which the Orthodox Church has been following for many centuries.

The Primate of the Bulgarian Church has repeatedly condemned the actions of the schismatics in Ukraine. In 2015, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church sent a letter to the President of Ukraine with a request to protect the rights of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine and its temples from the seizure by the "unrecognized" UOC KP.

In May of this year, the Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church called for the observance of the canonical order in overcoming the church schism in Ukraine, stressing that the issue of granting autocephaly in Ukraine can only be discussed after the schismatic groups have brought repentance and returned to the canonical Church.

On April 19, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the church initiative of President Poroshenko to create the Single Local Orthodox Church in the country.

Read also

Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer

In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova

Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".

Bancheny Monastery reports provocation

The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.

Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine

On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.

Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution

At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.

Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession

The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.