Sofia, December 26, 2025
Pat. Daniil arrived in Istanbul yesterday afternoon. Photo: bgonair.bg
Hundreds of Bulgarian Orthodox faithful petitioned their Church leadership to cancel its current visit to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, citing concerns about Patriarch Bartholomew’s canonical standing and recent ecumenical activities.
The petition gathered 530 signatures and, according to the creators, was to be presented to His Holiness Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria after Nativity services at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia yesterday, before his departure for Constantinople.
In an open letter addressed to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the faithful expressed concern that “after recent events, particularly the joint prayer of Patriarch Bartholomew with Pope Leo XIV, Orthodox Christians can no longer consider the canonical behavior of the master of the Phanar normal.”
The letter referenced a previous appeal made last year when citizens requested that Church leaders refrain from joint services and prayers with Patriarch Bartholomew “due to his heretical, non-Orthodox views, concepts and actions.”
The petitioners emphasized that “for the Bulgarian Church, nothing good has been happening there for a long time” and called on hierarchs not to conduct services between Bulgarian and Constantinopolitan clergy, as “their canonical and legal status is in question.”
They concluded by imploring Church leaders to “listen to the voice of the faithful people of Bulgaria, concerned about communion with such a person as Patriarch Bartholomew” and urged their bishops to “remain in Bulgaria and care for their flock during these joyous days.”
The official delegation of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church under the leadership of Pat. Daniil arrived in Istanbul yesterday afternoon. The visit includes a doxology, official reception with Pat. Bartholomew, and concelebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. George Cathedral today. Pat. Daniil is also scheduled to serve at the Bulgarian “Iron” Church the following day.
In response to concerns about Constantinople being in communion with schismatics, Pat. Daniil stated in an interview:
There’s no cause for alarm among Bulgarian Orthodox. There’s concern among some believers and this needs to be said clearly. The irenic visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch is traditional and is a sign of the unity of the Church. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church hasn’t recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and doesn’t commemorate it in the diptychs. This difference is clear and known to both sides. An agreement was reached that during the concelebration there will be no participation of hierarchs from this ecclesiastical structure—a commitment that the Ecumenical Patriarch has undertaken. Communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate hasn’t been broken, just as it hasn’t been broken in other similar cases. The way to overcome disagreements isn’t rupture, but maintaining communion while clearly and honestly confessing positions, with reliance on the conciliar voice of the Church.
However, concerns remain that while schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” bishops may not participate in the service, Pat. Bartholomew will nevertheless commemorate the head of the OCU during the Liturgy.
Pat. Daniil has been among the most outspoken and stalwart Bulgarian bishops on the issue of Ukrainian schismatics.
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