Hierarch of the Bulgarian Church regrets decision by Bulgaria’s authorities to expel the dean of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia

DECR Communication Service, 23.09.2023.

“We hereby express regret over the expulsion of the dean and two staff members of The Russian Church of Saint Nicholas in Sofia – archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), the metochion secretary archpriest Yevgeny Pavelchuk and Vladimir Bonko”, the social media post by the Vidin Metropoly says, signed by hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin.

As reported earlier, Bulgaria’s authorities compelled the dean, the secretary and a staff member of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia to leave the territory of Bulgaria within 24 hours under the pretext of a “national security threat” that their presence in Bulgaria allegedly represents.

“In this turbulent time in politics, we would like to remind that political bias, parties, ideologies, political coalitions will be gone the way they were gone for good many times over in the history of our country. What remains is the truth of Christ and love, epitomized by the Church”, Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin pointed out, “The truth and love of Christ are hope of salvation for all of us. They are also at basis of our individual and national security”.

“Love and truth call on us to respect everyone “without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality” (1 Tim. 5:21), Metrolpolitan Daniel reminded, “Let The Lord be our guidance and protector in the tribulations of our sinful world and bring us to His rest!”

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Hierarch of the Bulgarian Church regrets decision by Bulgaria’s authorities to expel the dean of the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons