site.btaPresident, Foreign Minister Reject Ecumenical Patriarch's Claims about Return of Church Relics by Bulgaria

President, Foreign Minister Reject Ecumenical Patriarch's Claimsabout Return of Church Relics by Bulgaria

Sofia, November 11 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev and
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov turned down the request, made by
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I during his visit here, that
Bulgaria should return church relics originating from Northern
Greece.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's request that Bulgaria return
church relics was not made in the proper place or way, President
 Rosen Plevneliev said on  Wednesday after attending the
swearing-in of the new constitutional judges.

After being decorated with Bulgaria's highest state honour, the
 Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, by Plevneliev on
Monday,  the Ecumenical Patriarch asked that Bulgaria return all
 church  artefacts and books originating from Northern Greece,
which were  taken during wars and turmoil in the Balkan
Peninsula in the  20th century.

Plevneliev recalled that the Bulgarian public has long been
aware of these claims, which are unfounded.

"It is not possible to anticipate what the Ecumenical Patriarch
will say or express as claim in his speech. We were definitely
taken by surprise. Bartholomew I received an award for his
efforts and support for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the
past," Plevneliev said. He was responding to comments in the
Bulgarian press on Wednesday that the Ecumenical Patriarch
should not have been given the high award. The head of State is
not vested with powers to decide on his own on conferring the
Balkan Range Order. In the specific case, the proposal has come
from the Foreign Ministry with the support of the Bulgarian
Academy of Sciences. 

Plevneliev encouraged the continuation of diplomatic
negotiations for the return of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel's
(997-1014) remains from Greece, so that he can be given a state
funeral in Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov commented before
journalists that the comments of the Ecumenical Patriarch are
absolutely inappropriate since the question is about interstate
relations. "Mixing religious and secular relations is absolutely
 unacceptable," Mitov observed.

Bulgaria and Greece have been maintaining excellent relations
and these issues were resolved back in 1964 by a Bulgarian-Greek
 accord, Mitov explained adding that the artefacts and books in
question are a lawful possession of the Bulgarian state.

He specified that the procedure of nominating the Ecumenical
Patriarch for the Balkan Range Order is well known and clear and
 goes through the Foreign Ministry. The motives behind it
involve the universal activity of Bartholomew I and his merits
to the inter-religious dialogue. Minister Mitov added the fact
that the Ecumenical Patriarch enjoys high reputation in
scientific circles and is committed to global problems, which
the Bulgarian state considers to be important, such as climate
change and responsible attitude towards nature. The motives were
 coordinated with all institutions, including the President's
office and the Holy Synod, Mitov said.