Bulgarian Patriarch: There are significant obstacles to recognizing OCU

Patriarch Daniil. Photo: Martin Karbovski

In an extensive interview with Bulgarian journalist Martin Karbovski, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil touched upon the pressing issue of the church situation in Ukraine, noting serious canonical obstacles to recognizing the structure created by Constantinople. This is reported by UOJ in Bulgaria.

"11 out of a total of 15 Orthodox Churches have not recognized this church structure, which the Patriarch of Constantinople recognized and formed at that time," emphasized Patriarch Daniil, commenting on the situation around the OCU. According to the head of the BOC, the interrupted Christian communion between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople occurred "due to the interference of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church".

The Patriarch explicitly stated that there are “significant canonical obstacles” to recognizing the newly created structure.

According to him, the Bulgarian Church has taken a special position in the emerging conflict, maintaining communion with both sides. "We have not broken communion, and I think this is a reasonable approach – so that the geopolitical dispute and the war in Ukraine finally find a peaceful solution and the church issue is resolved», stated the Bulgarian Patriarch.

Earlier, UOJ wrote that the Patriarch of Bulgaria explained why his Church does not recognize the OCU.

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