Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria received representatives of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Türkiye at the Holy Synod headquarters yesterday, including Dimitar Yotef, Chairman of the Boards of the Foundation of the Orthodox Churches of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul and the Foundation of the Bulgarian Church of St. George in Edirne.
The delegation also included members of the foundations and church boards of the Bulgarian churches in Türkiye, as well as Vasil Valchev, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Istanbul. Several members of the Holy Synod were present at the meeting, including Metropolitans Gregory of Veliko Tarnovo, Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Naum of Ruse, Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, along with clergy and Synodal officials.
During the meeting, Yotef invited Patriarch Daniel to visit Istanbul and the Bulgarian community in Türkiye once again, recalling the Patriarch’s peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the end of 2025.
A key topic of discussion was the celebration of services in Bulgarian at the churches of Sts. Constantine and Helena and St. George the Great Martyr in Edirne. Representatives of the Bulgarian community expressed their hope that the Holy Synod would assist in appointing a Bulgarian priest to provide pastoral care for the faithful in Türkiye and help restore regular liturgical life in the churches of Edirne.
Patriarch Daniel conveyed his blessing to all Bulgarians living in Istanbul and Edirne, encouraging them to remain active in the life of the Orthodox Church and to participate in spiritual celebrations in Bulgaria. He also highlighted this year’s commemorations marking the 1,150th anniversary of the birth and the 1,080th anniversary of the repose of St. John of Rila.
The participants also discussed ongoing restoration work at Bulgarian churches in Türkiye and the operation of the Bulgarian Sunday school for children in Edirne.
Concluding the meeting, Patriarch Daniel urged the Bulgarian faithful in Türkiye to remain steadfast in their Orthodox faith, cherish their Bulgarian heritage, and preserve unity among themselves. The meeting ended with an exchange of symbolic gifts.
Text and photos: Ангел Карадаков / Patriarchate of Bulgaria
