Religious scholar slams Bulgarian Church's decision to award head of Fanar

Vasilianna Merkheb. Photo: glasove.com

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, at its latest session, decided to award the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his contributions in overcoming church schism. According to Bulgarian religious scholar Vasilianna Merkheb, "this contradicts reality, testing the conscience of many," writes glasove.

"On what reasoned basis was the decision made to grant him the highest church award, especially when he is currently leading the persecution and state repression of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for over five years?" Merkheb highlights the issue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The religious analyst is convinced that the decision was made too hastily, and moreover, the synodal bishops did not have the opportunity to review a properly justified written explanation on the matter in due process.

"This is clearly an unreasoned and spontaneous decision, which should be referred to a special commission, as is traditionally practiced by the Holy Synod on important matters. The commission would review all the documents, facts, circumstances, and data regarding Patriarch Bartholomew's contributions concerning the schism during the period of 1992-1998. Until then, the awarding of this order should be postponed," she urges.

Additionally, Vasilianna Merkheb believes that awarding this order could be interpreted very negatively by almost the entire Orthodox world, as Patriarch Bartholomew "remains a driving force behind global schism and bears direct responsibility for deepening it."

She cites the example of the situation with the OCU (Orthodox Church of Ukraine). The religious scholar reminds that, along with the Bulgarian Church, the majority of Local Orthodox Churches recognize Metropolitan Onuphry as the canonical head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

"Furthermore, this decree could be viewed as a step towards recognizing a political project – the schismatic 'Orthodox Church of Ukraine' (OCU)," Merheb adds.

The Bulgarian religious scholar states that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is more expected to initiate a Pan-Orthodox Council, at which "the issue of the schism in Ukraine, Eastern Papism, ecumenism, ethnophyletism of Patriarch Bartholomew, the issue of second marriages for clergy, the calendar issue, and other pressing pan-Orthodox topics will be definitively addressed."

As the UOJ previously reported, the Bulgarian religious scholar called on the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to defend the persecuted Church in Ukraine.

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