Today, Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria met with Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Archimandrite Aetios, the Grand Ecclesiarch and Head of the Office of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Metropolitans Gregory of Veliko Tarnovo, Seraphim of Nevrokopi, Cyprian of Stara Zagora, and Bishop Gerasim of Melnik attended the meeting at the Synodal Palace.
At the beginning of the reception, Metropolitan Emmanuel conveyed the fraternal greetings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and expressed the support and good relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as well as the willingness for cooperation in various ecclesiastical matters of common interest.
“We hope that the good relations will continue to flourish during your Patriarchal ministry,” said Metropolitan Emmanuel. Patriarch Daniel, in return, expressed gratitude for the personal presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at his enthronement.
During the meeting, discussions were held on current issues concerning the Orthodox Church and its global mission – including dialogue among local Churches, the upcoming celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, and other topics of mutual interest. Patriarch Daniel and the members of the Holy Synod present highlighted the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in inter-religious relations in Bulgaria. Patriarch Daniel also informed Metropolitan Emmanuel about recent changes in the Law on Religious Freedom, which aimed to address the attempt to establish a parallel Orthodox Church in Bulgaria.
At the conclusion of the reception, the Patriarch recalled the decision of the Holy Synod to award the Order of St. John of Rila to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his assistance in resolving the schism in the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria.
Commemorative gifts were exchanged at the end of the meeting.
