His Holiness expects assistance from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sofia for the opening of the temple
After the incident with the expulsion of the Russian priests and the closing of the Russian Church in the center of Sofia, the Bulgarian Patriarch Neofit ordered the opening of the temple and the return of services in it. This is reported on the website of the Holy Metropolis of Sofia.
“By his order of today, 25.09.2023, His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte, in exercise of his powers as the Metropolitan of Sofia, in whose diocese is located the church “St. Nicholas Mirlikiski”, personally appointed priests from Sofia who will take care of of the temple by performing the usual services,” the statement said.
The Metropolitanate 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 real or other rights of anyone as guaranteed to them by secular laws.
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 announcement on the website of the metropolitanate also reads.
His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte has informed the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill about the actions taken in his special 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.
Before assuming their duties, the clerics were received by His Holiness in the building of the Holy Metropolis of Sofia, who blessed them and gave them his priestly instruction in carrying out the upcoming responsibilities,” the announcement also states.
