Metropolitan Arseniy of the Bulgarian Patriarchate has sharply criticized Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) over his public accusations against the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Daniil.
This was reported by Orthodox Times.
Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven expressed outrage at what he described as serious accusations against the Bulgarian episcopate and unacceptable interference by a foreign hierarch in the internal affairs of an autocephalous Orthodox Church.
The metropolitan stressed that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is an independent, autocephalous Church whose decisions are made collectively by its legitimate ecclesiastical authorities. He specifically addressed the decision concerning the canonical visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Constantinople, emphasizing that it had been adopted unanimously by the Holy Synod, without a single dissenting vote.
Citing Canon 2 of the Second Ecumenical Council, he reminded Metropolitan Luka that bishops must respect the canonical boundaries of their jurisdictions and refrain from interfering in the governance of other Churches.
Metropolitan Arseniy called on the Ukrainian hierarch to apologize for his accusations against the Bulgarian episcopate, respect the canonical independence of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and refrain from further interference in its internal affairs.
In conclusion, he expressed love and compassion for Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and prayed that God would grant their bishops the wisdom and strength to care for their people.
Earlier, Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) stated that Patriarch Daniil’s concelebration with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at Rila Monastery, during which Epifaniy, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), was commemorated, had caused deep disappointment among some believers in Bulgaria.
As LF previously reported, in response to reactions and criticism voiced in certain Church circles following Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s recent visit to Bulgaria and his participation in celebrations honoring St. John of Rila, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church issued a pastoral message to the clergy and faithful.
In its message, the Holy Synod emphasizes the importance of preserving the Orthodox faith and Church unity, reminding believers that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church remains in full Eucharistic and canonical communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and all other local Orthodox Churches.
Read LF’s analysis of Bartholomew’s visit to Bulgaria and the limits of Russian influence within the Bulgarian Church here.
