Bulgarian hierarch forbidden to serve in Turkey for his position on OCU
Metropolitan Kipriyan of Stara Zagora and Patriarch Bartholomew in April 2019. Photo: romfea.gr
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople did not allow Metropolitan Kipriyan of Stara Zagora of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to perform the Divine Liturgy in the church of Saints Constantine and Helena of the Bulgarian community in the city of Adrianople in Turkey, the Greek site Romfea reports.
The publication notes that the Bulgarian community of the city of Adrianople is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, thus permission and blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate must be obtained in order to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy in the aforesaid church.
However, Metropolitan Kipriyan did not receive such permission, nor did he receive any explanation as to the reasons why he was denied a permit by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Bulgarian hierarch believes that the ban on worship in the church of Sts Constantine and Helena is due to the fact that the Bulgarian Church has not recognized the OCU so far.
Another reason, according to the Metropolitan, might be the presence in the courtyard of the bust of the Bulgarian exarch Bishop Yosif (Yovchev), who initiated the separation of the Bulgarian Church from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1860.
At the same time, it is reported that, until now, Metropolitan Kipriyan has not been deprived of the right to serve in Bulgarian churches in Turkey, which are under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Moreover, in April of this year, Patriarch Bartholomew visited the church of Sts Constantine and Helena in Adrianople, where he asked Metropolitan Kipriyan of Stara Zagora to convey his greetings to Patriarch Neophytos of Bulgaria and the entire Bulgarian Church.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the hierarch of the Bulgarian Church, Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin, addressed the Primate and hierarchs of the Local Churches with a message regarding the actions of Phanar in Ukraine.
Read also
In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female
A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.
Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.
Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy
The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.
OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka
About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.
In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC сhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue
Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.
OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure
The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.