On the first day of his peaceful visit, the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniel was welcomed at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Istanbul quarter “Fener".
In the late afternoon on Thursday, the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel landed in Istanbul on the occasion of his first peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Together with him in our church delegation are Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan John of Varna and Veliko Preslav, Metropolitan Nahum of Ruse, Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Metropolitan Grigoriy of Vratsa, Metropolitan Pachomius of Vidin and Bishop Gerasim of Melnik – Secretary General of the Holy Synod, as well as the Director General of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) Kiril Valchev.
The delegation was welcomed by Metropolitan Maxim of Silivria, Metropolitan Grigoriy of Ancyra, Acting Protosingel, and Archimandrite Yakov.
The Bulgarian Patriarch is traveling to Istanbul at the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. A delegation from the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) is traveling with the Bulgarian Patriarch.
Patriarch Daniil's visit began today, December 25, Christmas Day, and will end on December 28.
Later in the evening, Patriarch Daniil visited the temple of “St. George the Victorious” in the Istanbul district of “Fener”, where he served a thanksgiving prayer service.
Then The Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – His Holiness was officially welcomed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
„We from the Holy Synod thank you for the warm welcome and believe that the upcoming days of our visit to the Ecumenical Throne will be filled with grace and brotherly love in a bright testimony to our unity in the faith and hope that we share. We come here with peace and goodwill, as well as with the good will through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, we are glad that this is possible", said Patriarch Daniil.
After the official welcome, the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil honored the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the Order of “St. John of Rila“ 1st degree for merits and gratitude to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate (BOC- BP).
The visit of Patriarch Daniil envisages that he will concelebrate with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a solemn Divine Liturgy in the church of “St. George the Victorious“ on December 26.
On the penultimate day of his peaceful visit, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the church of “St. Stephen“ in Istanbul.