Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria today received the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Bulgaria, Alexios Liberopoulos, for a meeting.
The meeting was attended by Bishop Gerasimos of Melnik, General Secretary of the Holy Synod, Dr. Maria Kioseva, Legal Advisor to the Holy Synod, and Dr. Alexandros Smocevski, Advisor on Canonical Legal Matters to the Metropolitan of Sofia and the Patriarch of Bulgaria.
During the meeting, the positive relations between Bulgaria and Greece were discussed, as well as the constructive cooperation between the two countries in the fields of tourism and travel. “Our shared faith and life unite us in the hope for a better future. We pray for you and for the good work you are doing in our country, and I am glad that we can further strengthen the bonds between our Orthodox Churches and peoples,” said Patriarch Daniel, adding that Bulgarians deeply honor Greek saints and frequently visit the monasteries and churches in our neighboring country to seek help and protection.
On his part, Ambassador Alexios Liberopoulos remarked, “Over a million Greeks visited Bulgaria last year, and as many Bulgarians visited Greece. These are not just numbers, but a reflection of the deep ties between our countries and Churches.”
The two sides agreed that, despite the good relations between Bulgaria and Greece, the world continues to suffer from divisions and military conflicts. “There is no peace in the world. We have just celebrated the Nativity of Christ, when we heard the angelic hymn: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.’ But some people do not wish to embrace this peace. The root of all problems is humanity’s rebellion against God. That is why we are convinced that the Church plays a fundamental role in bringing peace to the world. It teaches us first to reconcile with God and to understand that with His help, we can achieve everything our soul longs for,” said Patriarch Daniel.
The meeting concluded with well-wishes for a successful year and hopes for future fruitful encounters and joint initiatives. Patriarch Daniel presented Ambassador Liberopoulos with commemorative coins depicting Bulgaria’s major monasteries, a book about the Rila Monastery, and a book of Dr. Maria Kioseva.
