OCU explains the significance of the concelebration of Ukrainian and Bulgarian hierarchs

This was stated in a comment by the spokesman of the OCU, Metropolitan Yevstratiy (Zorya) of Bila Tserkva, according to Religiyna Pravda.

According to him, this is undoubtedly a historic event, as for the first time in modern history, representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian Patriarchate, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine gathered at a single altar for a united Eucharistic prayer.

At the same time, this event raised a number of questions, particularly whether this is a recognition of the OCU by the BOC.

"The answer cannot be monosyllabic because, on the one hand, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has formed its commission to study all aspects related to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. No negative or positive decision has been made during this time, but the event of the concelebration indicates the direction of thought and positions that dominate in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church," noted Metropolitan Yevstratiy.

According to him, further steps in the relations between the OCU and the BOC should be expected after the election of the Bulgarian Patriarch.

"As we know, the Bulgarian Church is currently awaiting the election of a new Patriarch. According to the schedule that was published, this is supposed to happen on June 30 at the Church-National Council.

There are all reasons to expect that after the election of the new Patriarch, we can see the next logical steps towards establishing full-fledged relations between the Orthodox Churches of Ukraine and Bulgaria," emphasized the OCU hierarch.

It should be noted that Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva (OCU) and Bishop Avraamiy of Boryspil (OCU) concelebrated with Patriarch Bartholomew and hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar.