Bulgarian Patriarch explains why his Church does not recognize OCU

Patriarch Daniil. Photo: BNT

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is among the 11 Local Churches that do not recognize the OCU, but it maintains communion with all other Churches to help overcome divisions, said Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil. This was reported by the UOJ in Bulgaria, citing an interview with Bulgarian National Television.

“There is this division, a broken communion between some Local Orthodox Churches. Mainly over the question of recognition or non-recognition of the religious structure called the ‘Orthodox Church of Ukraine,’ headed by Epifaniy, the so-called Metropolitan of Kyiv,” the Patriarch said.

He emphasized that Epifaniy’s structure “uses violence, seizes churches by force,” and that its representatives have beaten UOC priests.

At the same time, he said that the Bulgarian Church maintains communion with all Local Churches (including those that recognize the OCU). “We have not broken Eucharistic communion with anyone. I believe this is a balanced approach that will allow us to overcome existing divisions,” the Patriarch stressed.

“We hope that through this communion, through this dialogue, we will give time and opportunity for everyone to see the true state of affairs,” Patriarch Daniil said, referring to problems in the OCU’s activities.

According to him, the real situation with the Ukrainian church structure is already becoming clear to many in the Orthodox world. “Gradually, I think everything will fall into place, and this problem will be overcome,” the Patriarch concluded.

It will be recalled that immediately after the creation of the OCU, the current Patriarch, then Metropolitan of Vidin, sent letters to the primates and hierarchs of the Local Churches harshly and thoroughly criticizing Constantinople’s decisions.

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