OCU not enthusiastic about candidates for Patriarch of Bulgarian Church

OCU spokesperson Yevstratiy Zoria. Photo: Zoria's Facebook

On June 20, the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, in 42 rounds of voting, shortlisted three candidates for the election of the Patriarch. OCU spokesperson Yevstratiy Zoria, who had high hopes for the new head of the BOC, evaluated each of them on his Facebook page.

"Metropolitan Grigoriy of Vratsa was elected locum tenens of the throne after the burial of the late Patriarch Neophyte. He appears to be a compromise figure," Zoria wrote.

The other two hierarchs, according to the OCU spokesperson, "are considered close to the old course" (presumably referring to the course of the late Patriarch Neophyte – Ed.).

As the UOJ reported, Yevstratiy Zoria stated that there had been some "positive shifts" between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and his structure, and the responsibility for the final decision on recognizing the OCU will lie with the newly elected Primate of the BOC.

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