Bulgarian priests demand prosecution of those co-serving with OCU "bishops"

Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv and Yevstratiy Zoria. Photo: ec-patr.org

Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Metropolitan Jacob of Dorostol, Bishop Zion of Velichka, and Bishop Vissarion of Smolyan, who "concelebrated with schismatics from the non-canonical OCU" on May 19, 2024, in Istanbul, should be held accountable, according to priests of the Pirdop deanery of the Lovech Eparchy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The priests sent an open letter to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Church demanding accountability for the actions of three metropolitans and two bishops who served with representatives of the OCU.

The priests wrote that they "categorically object to the involvement of the BOC in political affairs, which, among other things, are taking place outside of our country."

"We remind you that the canonical Church of Christ within the borders of Ukraine has always had and still has the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, currently headed by Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv, while the OCU, newly created and actively promoted by the Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, is, at best, a geopolitical project in ecclesiastical garb, and in any case – a false church," the priests wrote.

They insist that "three metropolitans and two bishops be held accountable for the grave act of self-harm they inflicted not only on themselves, but on the entire church body, and on the eve of the patriarch's election caused serious damage and turmoil, threatening the unity of the Church of Christ in Bulgaria."

The priests also expressed "outrage at the Phanar's re-introduction and enhanced use of ecclesiastical terminology, such as 'Mother Church' and its 'daughters', which replaces the original understanding of the Church as the mystical Body of Christ and as a visible flock with the Shepherd the Lord Jesus Christ at its head."

"Instead, the concept of the Church as a global human institution of a corporate nature is being imposed. We express our bewilderment and deep incomprehension as to why such terminology can be gradually heard from certain Bulgarian bishops ex cathedra," the appeal said.

The priests also stated that "the presence of Patriarch Bartholomew in the upcoming elections of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, to which he claims he was invited, is undoubtedly undesirable."

"By his actions and statements in recent years, Patriarch Bartholomew has invariably become a source of severe temptation for a significant part of the believers of Bulgaria, and after the creation of the OCU – already for the Universal Church. We do not want his presence also because of the current involvement of Bulgarian bishops in iniquities," emphasized the Lovech Eparchy.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that representatives of the Bulgarian Church served with "hierarchs" of the OCU in Istanbul.

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