The Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
Department for External Church Relations
The Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
Accept
The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy
The Synod Acknowledged the Impossibility of Concelebration with Hierarchs of the Bulgarian Church Who Entered into Ecclesiastical Communion with Schismatics
On May 30th, participants of the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church heard a report by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, on the recent concelebration of hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church with representatives of Ukrainian schismatic communities (Journal No. 60), reports Patriarchia.ru.
On May 19, 2024, at the Valukli Monastery in Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople presided over a Liturgy in which representatives of one of the schismatic structures operating in Ukraine participated. Among the concelebrants were hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Metropolitan Jacob of Dorostol, Bishop Sioniy of Veliko Tarnovo, and Bishop Vissarion of Smolyan.
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed deep sorrow that the hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church — Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Metropolitan Jacob of Dorostol, Bishop Sioniy of Veliko Tarnovo, and Bishop Vissarion of Smolyan — participated in a concelebration with representatives of one of the Ukrainian schismatic groups, thereby causing significant harm to the relations between the Russian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches.
The participants of the meeting acknowledged the impossibility of concelebrating with the aforementioned hierarchs who have entered into ecclesiastical communion with schismatics.
With regret, it was noted that the Patriarchate of Constantinople continues to take actions aimed at deepening divisions within Orthodoxy.
Patriarch
Sermons
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Honorary Chair of Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation
21.09.2025
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem
17.09.2025
Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents
24.01.2021
Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God
06.11.2020