Bulgarian Patriarch comments on imposition of Greek language in Bulgarian churches in Turkey
His Holiness Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria expressed confusion and frustration over a Greek Metropolitan’s refusal to allow Bulgarian-language services at a Bulgarian church in Edirne, Turkey.
“This misunderstanding... I personally can’t understand, can’t explain why this is happening,” Pat. Daniil told Bulgarian National Television (BNT) in response to the scandal at the Bulgarian Church of St. George in Edirne, where a Greek Metropolitan blocked a festive Bulgarian-language Liturgy on St. George’s Day this past Saturday.
The Patriarch questioned why Fr. Haralampy Nichev, a cleric of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, wasn’t permitted to celebrate the service. “He’s a cleric of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, he came that day to celebrate. There had been an agreement beforehand,” the Patriarch said. “When 150 Bulgarians went there, what’s the problem with allowing the Liturgy to be celebrated in Bulgarian?”
The Bulgarian primate noted that the conflicts with Metropolitan Amphilochios and the Bulgarian community “have been going on for quite some time” and are known to all relevant parties.
“We’re repeating what happened 150 years ago, when they fought for the right to preach in an independent Bulgarian language,” he said. “These issues that were so sensitive in the past—we don’t see why there’s a need now to stir up again something that benefits no one.”
The Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul has stated it will not allow services to be conducted in Greek in Bulgarian churches in Edirne and has informed both the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Regarding the foundation’s decision to ban Greek priests from the church until the issue is resolved, Pat. Daniil said the community has that right under Turkish law as a registered religious organization. “I think this decision comes as a result of many negotiations, many attempts to resolve this issue in another way,” he said.
The Patriarch expressed hope that “the responsible parties will take into account the history, the distant history of the issue, the recent prehistory of the issue, and will find a successful resolution to this question, so that everyone is satisfied, so that there’s regular worship there, in an understandable language.”