The Synod of Bulgarian Church does not support Patriarch Kirill’s idea to hold Pan-Orthodox Council on Ukrainain issue

At their meeting on October 4, the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church considered letter No. 599 of October 3, 2018 of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus in which he reports on “disturbing events associated with the church life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).”

After listening to the offer of Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv, and after voting, the Synod decided to submit a letter of Patriarch Kirill for consideration by a specially created commission on the issue related to the church split in Ukraine under the Synod of the BOC.

This proposal was voted for by Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria, Metropolitan Ioaniky of Sliven, Metropolitan Gregory of Veliko Turnovo, Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Amvrosii of Dorostol, Metropolitan Antonii of Eastern and Western Europe, Metropolitan Seraphim of Nevrokop, Metropolitan Naum of Russe, Metropolitan Cyprian of Staro Zagora and Gregory of Vrachany.

Voting against this decision were Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Metropolitan Danilo of Vidin.

In connection with the above-mentioned letter, the Synod heard a verbal proposal by Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, who introduced the draft decision of the Holy Synod, namely: “On the issue of the provision of autocephaly of the UOC, the Synod of the BOC considers that it is necessary to convene the Pan-Orthodox Council which would resolve this question”. Votes for this decision were given by Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, Metropolitan Ioan of Varna Veliki Preslav, Metropolitan Danilo of Vidin.

Voting against were: Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria, Metropolitan Ioaniky of Sliven, Metropolitan Gregory of Veliko Turnovo, Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Amvrosii of Dorostol, Metropolitan Antonii of Eastern and Western Europe, Metropolitan Naum of Russe, Metropolitan Cyprian of Staro Zagora.

After voting, the Synod did not accept the draft decision proposed by Metropolitan Gabriel.