Edirne, Turkey, May 12, 2026
Photo: bta.bg
A dispute erupted at a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Edirne, Turkey, after Greek Orthodox clergy sent by the Patriarchate of Constantinople attempted to conduct services in Greek rather than Bulgarian, prompting the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul to ban Greek-language worship at its Edirne churches.
The incident occurred just days after Patriarch Bartholomew accused the Russian Church of dividing Church unity with ethnophyletism.
The confrontation took place on St. George’s Day at the St. George the Victorious Church in Edirne’s Kiyik district. Hundreds of Bulgarians had traveled to Edirne for the celebration, reports bta.bg.
Tensions began when a Greek Metropolitan insisted on conducting the Liturgy in Greek. Bulgarian worshippers objected, arguing that services in a Bulgarian church should be held in Bulgarian.
Dimitri Yotef, chairman of the Foundation of the Orthodox Churches of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul, said the community had traveled to Edirne to conduct the traditional service in Bulgarian but had been informed that only Greek clergy would officiate. He announced that the foundation had decided to suspend religious services in both Bulgarian churches in Edirne until the issue is resolved, though they will remain open for visits and prayer.
Yotef said tensions over the issue had existed for years, particularly after the death of Fr. Alexander Chakirik, whom he described as highly respected by the community.
Bulgaria’s Consul General in Edirne, Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, who was present at the service, said the dispute reflected a longstanding problem involving restrictions on Bulgarian-language worship.
After lengthy arguments and strong demands from Bulgarian worshippers, a prayer was eventually read in Bulgarian.
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