Phanar head says he came to Bulgaria to pray for Church unity

Patriarch Bartholomew speaking to reporters in Sofia. Photo: UOJ-Bulgaria

On October 18, 2026, Patriarch Bartholomew told reporters in Sofia that he intended to pray at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral for peace and unity among the Orthodox Churches, UOJ-Bulgaria reports.

The Phanar head noted that during Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel's visits to Constantinople and Imbros, the two had laid the foundation for a "sincere brotherly friendship." He thanked the Bulgarian people for their hospitality and conveyed a blessing "on behalf of the Mother Church."

Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Bulgaria on October 17 for a three-day visit at the invitation of the Holy Synod. The trip marks the 1,150th anniversary of the birth and the 1,080th anniversary of the repose of St. John of Rila. A visit to Rila Monastery is scheduled for October 19.

Protesters gathered outside the Synodal Palace to greet the Phanar head. The previous day, some 2,300 people had signed an open letter opposing his visit, accusing the Patriarch of ecumenism and abandoning the Orthodox faith.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church does not recognize the OCU and considers the UOC, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, to be the only canonical Church in Ukraine.

As the UOJ previously reported, Patriarch Daniel called for overcoming disagreements in the Church through dialogue.

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