Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria welcomed the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria, Nathaniel Copsey.
The meeting was also attended by Bishop Gerasimos of Melnik, General Secretary of the Holy Synod.
During the meeting, Patriarch Daniel shared with Ambassador Copsey his impressions of his visit to the United Kingdom and the consecration ceremony of the Bulgarian church “St. John of Rila” in London, as well as his meetings with compatriots in the British capital. The Patriarch expressed his admiration for the grandeur of the new church and acknowledged its significance for the spiritual care of Orthodox Bulgarians in the United Kingdom, who numbered approximately 300,000. Ambassador Copsey highly appreciated the role of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in preserving the Bulgarian people through the trials of history.
Patriarch Daniel stated: “The Bulgarian Orthodox Church plays a crucial role in shaping and preserving our national identity, but it also holds an important place in our modern society. It is a spiritual support for our people and bears witness to eternal values, the meaning of human life, and eternal life in God.”
During the meeting, various challenges facing contemporary European society were discussed, as well as opportunities for collaboration in successfully overcoming the crises the world is experiencing.
The Patriarch presented Ambassador Copsey with a commemorative coin marking the centenary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky,” as well as an album dedicated to the Rila Monastery.
