Archbishop Job of Shumsk (UOC) met with Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven and Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov on August 18 during a visit to the Sliven Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven introduced Archbishop Job to the mayor and welcomed his visit to the diocese. Discussions focused on the continuing war in Ukraine, the importance of peace and human life, and support for the several thousand Ukrainian citizens who have sought refuge in the Burgas region.
The meeting also addressed the pastoral care provided to Ukrainians in Bulgaria.
Archbishop Job thanked the Bulgarian authorities and Church for their hospitality and assistance to Ukrainians displaced by the war, stressing that peace remains the Ukrainian people’s foremost desire.
“The most important thing the people of Ukraine want is peace, an end to the war, so that neither children nor adults die,” he said. “The human person is what matters most.”
Mayor Nikolov assured Archbishop Job that Burgas would continue supporting Ukrainian citizens who have sought refuge from the conflict.
The meeting concluded with a shared appeal for peace, compassion and the protection of human life and dignity.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
