Bulgarian Prime Minister comments on expulsion of ROC priests from country
St Nicholas’s Church in Sofia. Photo: rutraveller.ru
Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said that the decision to expel the priests of the Russian Orthodox Church from the country was not made by him personally but by the national security agency, reports the Bulgarian News Agency BTA.
Denkov explained that the decision to expel the ROC priests from Bulgaria "was based on a classified report".
"I have only reviewed it, and I am not directly involved in making this decision. This is a decision of the state national security agency," the official said.
On the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria, it is mentioned that the Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Sofia will cease its activities at this stage, and its future will be decided by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Furthermore, Russia's Ambassador to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, stated that Bulgaria's Ambassador to Moscow, Atanas Krastin, will be summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation that has developed.
At the same time, Mitrofanova noted: "In Moscow, no one will take mirror actions against the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Because we are not barbarians."
As reported, the Bulgarian Church reacted to the expulsion of the ROC priests from Sofia.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.