Bulgarian Patriarch appoints priests to church whose ROC clergy were ousted

Priests of the Bulgarian Church, who were appointed by Patriarch Neophytos to the representation ROC church in Sofia. Photo: the Bulgarian Church website

On September 25, 2023, Patriarch Neophytos appointed clerics from the Bulgarian Church to the St. Nicholas Church, a metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia, reports the website of the Bulgarian Patriarchate.

"His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos of Bulgaria, in fulfilling his responsibilities as the Metropolitan of Sofia, in whose diocese the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra is located, personally appointed priests from Sofia who will take care of the church and perform regular services," the statement said.

According to the published information, the Bulgarian Church guarantees that "no part of the church's property will be lost or damaged".

"His Holiness' actions are motivated by concern for the faithful, the preservation of order in the church, and should only be understood in a spiritual aspect. They do not affect real or other rights guaranteed by secular laws to anyone," the text stated.

It is also reported: "His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos of Bulgaria informed Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus about the actions taken in his special letter."

As earlier reported, Bulgaria expelled priests of the ROC representation church in Sofia from the country.

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