The Holy Synod of Bulgaria, at its meeting on December 10, 2024, unanimously expressed a negative opinion regarding the renaming of the square in front of the Patriarchal Cathedral of “St. Alexander Nevsky.”
The Holy Synod noted that the square in front of the cathedral is an integral part of the history of Bulgaria and is inseparably connected with all the events related to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Bulgarian Patriarchate over the past hundred years. They emphasized that it is not just a municipal square, but an unchanging historical site directly linked to the Patriarchal Cathedral of “St. Alexander Nevsky.”
They pointed out that in European Union member states, the names of squares in capitals and large cities correspond to the names of cathedrals built by Christian believers over the centuries. Examples include the square in front of the cathedral of “St. Michael and St. Gudula” in Brussels, the “St. Peter” square in Rome, the “San Marco” square in Venice, and the “Piazza del Duomo” in Milan. In many cities, not only the squares but also surrounding streets are named after the cathedral, highlighting the significant spiritual importance of the cathedral.
The Holy Synod emphasized that squares in cities like Vienna, Copenhagen, Budapest, Munich, Thessaloniki, and Barcelona were named after the cathedrals were built, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the temple towering over them. Therefore, they unanimously oppose the renaming of the square in front of the Patriarchal Cathedral of “St. Alexander Nevsky” in Sofia.