Moscow Ties Fuel Tensions in Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Tensions over the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's relationship with Moscow erupted during a liturgy at St. Nedelya Church in Sofia. The presence of Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova prompted loud protests from some worshippers, who booed and shouted, “This is not Moscow!”

Patriarch Daniil interrupted the service and appealed for order. According to local reports, the liturgy was subsequently suspended. The incident took place on the day the miraculous Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was brought to the church, attracting an unusually large number of worshippers.

The disruption comes as Bulgaria continues to debate the Orthodox Church's relationship with Russia. Since his election in 2024, Patriarch Daniil has been widely viewed as favoring close ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and has repeatedly expressed positions aligned with those of Patriarch Kirill on the war in Ukraine

(novayagazeta, bak)