By Konstantinos Menyktas
Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin made significant remarks regarding the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarch just before the election for the new Patriarch of Bulgaria, where Daniil is part of the triprosopon.
In an interview with bnr.bg, the Metropolitan criticized the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in 2019, likening it to the persecution of the Church in the USSR. He highlighted the uncanonical foundation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, despite the existence of the recognized Ukrainian Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv.
Daniil also questioned the Ecumenical Patriarch’s decision on the apostolic succession of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, arguing that it led to further division within Ukraine and beyond. He emphasized the impact of this division on other Orthodox Churches and urged the faithful to defend the canonicality and dogmatic truths of their faith.