Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey

Patriarch Daniel. Photo: Press Service of the Bulgarian Church

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel expressed bewilderment over the ban imposed by a hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate on celebrating the Liturgy in Bulgarian at the Church of St. George in Edirne, Turkey. BNT News reported this.

The ban was issued by Metropolitan Amphilochios, who represents the jurisdiction of the Constantinople Patriarchate, also known as the Phanar. The service was planned for May 6, the patronal feast day. Around 150 Bulgarians, along with priest Fr. Haralampi Nichev, were ready to celebrate the Liturgy, but in the end only a brief prayer was served. The Bulgarian community refused to hold the service in Greek.

“The misunderstanding between Metropolitan Amphilochios and the Bulgarian community – because in Edirne it is mainly Bulgarians who attend the church – has been going on for quite some time. These problems are known to the church council and to the foundation responsible for the churches in Istanbul and Edirne. They are known to the Constantinople Patriarchate, and they are known to us. And what astonishes me so much is that it is known that such retaliatory actions lead to the results to which they logically led. We are repeating what happened 150 years ago, when they fought for the right to preach in an independent Bulgarian language.

And this misunderstanding... I personally cannot understand or explain why this is happening,” Patriarch Daniel said.

As the UOJ reported, a scandal had earlier erupted at a Bulgarian church in Turkey over the imposition of the Greek language. The Church of St. George in Edirne has historically been connected with the Bulgarian Orthodox community, which has maintained a presence in the city for centuries. The issue of the language of worship remains a painful point in relations between the BOC and the Constantinople Patriarchate.

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