BOC theologian on inviting Bartholomew to Sofia: Where is Synod's Letter?

Representatives of the BOC and the OCU at the Phanar. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

Bulgarian church historian, writer, and theologian Georgi Todorov, speaking at a protest outside the Holy Synod building of the Bulgarian Church, spoke about the believers of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church not having seen a document inviting Patriarch Bartholomew to Sofia for the elections and enthronement of the new Bulgarian Patriarch.

According to Todorov, "It would be useful to see the document by which Patriarch Bartholomew was invited, as verbal improvisations (of the BOC hierarchs – Ed.) are not relevant."

"It is necessary to see the document – the decision of the Holy Synod. Especially in this case. This is crucial from the point of view of canonical law," Todorov said.

He explained that "in this case, when we don't have a patriarch, the metropolitans do not have the right to act on their own initiative. The decision must be made by the Holy Synod. And this decision must be in writing."

"Not orally, not over the phone, not someone telling someone something, but in an official written form. Everything else is not serious. So, let them show us this decision, so that we can see it," stressed Georgi Todorov.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to the believers of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the hierarchs who co-served with the OCU at the Phanar violated the canons of the Church.

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