Patr. Daniel Reaffirms Bulgarian Church's Recognition of UOC

SOFIA, BULGARIA — Bulgarian Patr. Daniel has reaffirmed that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church does not recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), emphasizing that his Church remains aligned with the majority of the world's Local Orthodox Churches in recognizing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) under His Beatitude Metr. Onuphry as the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

Speaking on the program "A Matter of Measure," Patr. Daniel stated ,"Our position is just as balanced as that of the other 11 Local Orthodox Churches, which have not recognized this ecclesiastical structure in Ukraine and continue to support and recognize the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with Metr. Onuphy as its Primate as the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine. So, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church stands with the majority of Orthodox Churches."

Patr. Daniel rejected suggestions that this stance reflects political alignment with the Russian Orthodox Church, noting that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church remains in Eucharistic communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and continues to concelebrate with its representatives.

The Bulgarian primate also pointed to the position of the Albanian Orthodox Church as evidence that opposition to recognizing the OCU cannot be reduced to geopolitical loyalties. "For example, the Albanian Church – toward whom does it lean?" he asked, while urging commentators and social media personalities to show greater respect toward the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its institutions.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Daniel supported Bulgaria's opposition to sanctions on Patr. Kirill.