In his first television interview on BNT’s Panorama, the newly appointed Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has always stood by its people, offering support during challenging times and bearing witness to eternal truths.
Addressing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Patriarch Daniel advocated for peace and dialogue. “If we start from the principle of philanthropy, we will be on the side of all people and will not allow them to divide us with various fears and phobias,” he responded when asked about his stance on the conflict. “Even before stepping into my patriarchal role, I have repeatedly stated that in this conflict, and any conflict, the best thing is to stop military actions and bloodshed, and for the warring parties to sit down and talk.”
Furthermore, Patriarch Daniel in his interview underscored that the state cannot solve the fundamental problems of human life, such as the meaning of life and the salvation of the soul. “The civil servant, the leader, is a servant of God, dedicated day and night to this ministry. It is beneficial for everyone to have law and order in the state and society, and the responsibility for this lies with the government,” he said.
The patriarch also stressed the importance of dialogue and respecting diverse opinions. “I respect everyone’s personal opinion. When this opinion poses a danger to the person themselves, I do not remain indifferent but engage in conversation to explain my concerns,” he noted.
Patriarch Daniel emphasized the necessity of interaction between state and church authorities in all spheres. “Among Orthodox Christians, there are people of all political parties with different opinions. What can bring us into unity is not everyone seeking their own righteousness. Our human justice is often flawed,” he stated. He expressed confidence in the enduring faith of many Bulgarians, attributing estrangement and pessimism to sin. “Sin works to turn us away from God, to despair us, to stop us on our path. When there is a relationship of human brotherhood, responsibility, and care for each other, it will inevitably bring God’s paradise into our souls and become visible around us.”
However, it should be noted that the Patriarch of Bulgaria made different remarks before his election, while he was serving as Metropolitan of Vidin. In an interview with bnr.bg, he compared the establishment of the “so-called” Orthodox Church of Ukraine by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in 2019 to the persecution of the Church in the Soviet Union.
He recalled that despite the presence of the recognized canonical Church in Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv, he asserted that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was founded uncanonically. “This uncanonical action by Patriarch Bartholomew has led to even greater division within Ukraine,” he emphasized. He also criticized the Ecumenical Patriarch’s position on the apostolic succession of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine.
Source: bg-patriarshia.bg
