The Bulgarian Patriarch Neofit appointed priests from Sofia who will take care of the Russian Church in Sofia and will perform divine services in the church. This is stated in a message to the media from the Holy Synod.
The Holy Metropolis of Sofia guarantees that no part of the property of the church will be lost or damaged. As before, believers will be able to bow before the relics of Saint Seraphim of Sofia and beg for his gracious help and support.
The action of His Holiness is dictated by care for the faithful, preservation of good order in the church and should be understood only in its spiritual aspect. It does not affect the property or other rights of anyone, which are guaranteed to them by secular laws, the announcement added.
Any other questions of a secular legal and administrative nature related to the case will be discussed at the regular meeting of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate.
The Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte has informed the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill about the actions taken in his letter.
His Holiness expects assistance from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sofia for the opening of the temple and the continuation of its blessed life, which plays an important role in the spiritual upliftment of Orthodox Christians, the press release said.
The closure of the Russian Church “St. Nicholas of Mirliki” came about after the decision to expel three clergymen from Russia and Belarus on suspicion of espionage in favor of Moscow.
Tension in front of the Russian Church, they closed Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.
