Bulgarian Church Invites Patriarch Bartholomew to Celebrations in October
A delegation of the Bulgarian Church conveyed to the Ecumenical Patriarch an invitation from its Primate.
The Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has sent an official invitation to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to participate in the celebrations in honor of Venerable John of Rila. This was reported by Orthodoxia News Agency.
A church delegation led by Metropolitan Naum of Ruse visited the Phanar to personally deliver the invitation and greetings on behalf of Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria. The meeting took place at the Church of Saint Kyriaki in Istanbul during a solemn Divine Liturgy. The Bulgarian group also included Bishop Gerasim of Melnik and Dr. Alexander Smochevsky.
The visit of the head of the Church of Constantinople is timed to coincide with the celebration of the 1150th anniversary of the birth and the 1080th anniversary of the repose of Bulgaria's heavenly patron — Venerable John of Rila. The festive events will take place in Bulgaria from October 16 to 20, 2026. Following the conclusion of the service, Patriarch Bartholomew addressed the Bulgarian envoys with a word of greeting.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, clergy and laity called on the Synod of the Bulgarian Church to speak out in defense of the UOC.
