site.btaHoly Synod to Comment Soon on Relationship with Moscow Patriarchate - Patriarch Neophyte

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Holy Synod to Comment Soon
on Relationship with Moscow
Patriarchate - Patriarch Neophyte


Sofia, October 19 (BTA) - On Friday Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte was asked about the position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the row between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

"We haven't looked into this matter yet but we will do so soon, and we will come up with a position", he explained.

Replying to a question, Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav said that the Holy Synod members had agreed to hold a session on November 5 but declined to commit whether the position will be adopted then and there.

"The situation between the Ecumenical and the Moscow Patriarchate is rather difficult," said the Metropolitan, adding that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is aware who the canonical representative of the Ukrainian Church is and has always supported that representative. "The point is that we have decided to form a commission that will carefully go over everything and then come up with a reasonable and balanced decision, which will state the position of the Holy Synod," Ioan explained.

He said that he is one of the three metropolitans in 15-member Holy Synod who are in favour of an Ecumenical Council, the other two being Gavriil of Lovech and Danail of Vidin. "While we may hold different opinions in the Holy Synod, we unanimously decide on a position of the Holy Synod," he added. RQ/TH
/TH/