Signaling a new, close bond between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria, His Beatitude Daniil, Metropolitan of Sofia and Patriarch of Bulgaria, traveled to the Phanar, the Sacred Center of Orthodox Christianity, in what was his first official visit following his election and enthronement on the Throne of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria. This important visit included joint services, brotherly meetings, and events of significant ecclesiastical and historical sites, and was marked by a spirit of understanding, dialogue, and unity.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil arrived at the Phanar on the Feast Day of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Thursday, December 25, 2025, and departed on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
After concelebrating the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Daniil on Friday, December 26, 2025, at the Patriarchal Church of St George in the Phanar, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized that “the sacred bonds between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Bulgarian people are, as is well known, ancient, reaching back to the ninth century and to the illustrious Patriarchal tenure of the eminent Ecumenical Patriarch Saint Photios the Great, who demonstrated particular and tangible concern for the Christianization of the Slavic nations.”
His All-Holiness continued: “At that time, the ruler of the Bulgarians, Boris, having been baptized and having received the name Michael, became a spiritual child of Saint Photios, who addressed him as ‘his most illustrious and beloved son, the noble and genuine offspring of his own spiritual travail.’ These very words of Patriarch Photios to Boris-Michael may likewise be spoken, with rightful pride, by the Church of Constantinople to the entire devout people of Bulgaria.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch noted that relations between the two Churches had not always been free of difficulties: “Indeed, there have been, at times, through envy and the connivance of the evil one, turbulent fluctuations in our inter-ecclesiastical relations, always profoundly painful and most often attributable to extra-ecclesiastical factors and interventions. Yet the prism of love in Christ has in no way been diminished, and our spiritual bond has never been severed. ‘We are members one of another,’ inseparably and indivisibly united in our common Faith and confession, in our shared experience of the Holy Spirit, and in the common hope of eternal life and salvation in Christ.”
“It was a joy to be in communion with distinguished hierarchs and metropolitans of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria, whom we have known for a long time and with whom we maintain friendly relations,” the Ecumenical Patriarch added.
In his own address, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil stressed the unbreakable bond between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Bulgaria: “Your All-Holiness,” he said, “Allow me, in conclusion, to once again assure you, personally and on behalf of the Hierarchy, the sacred clergy, and the faithful people of God of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, of our brotherly love and our profound respect for you, as well as for the venerable Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople entrusted to you. From the depths of our hearts, we wish you steadfast health, strength granted by God, and apostolic zeal in your ministry.” He added: “Glory and gratitude be to God for this fraternal communication and for the opportunity for this peaceful visit to take place.”
His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Varna described the visit as “a clear expression of mutual respect,” and stated: “It was such a beautiful outcome of the decision of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria and the kind invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, that the first official visit of Patriarch Daniil to the Mother Church, the Archdiocese of Constantinople, could take place.”
Archon Boris Gurov, who was present for the visit, observed that “history was made at the Phanar when His All-Holiness warmly welcomed His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil. This visit manifested the unity of the Holy Orthodox Church, and the maternal care that the Holy Mother Church has for all of the Orthodox Churches of the region, and of the world at large.” Archon Gurov’s beloved wife Youlianna added: “Those of us who were present received an immense blessing. The fraternal bond between these two holy hierarchs was an inspiration to all of us to persevere in love and pursue reconciliation with all people.”
After the official welcome Patriarch Daniil honored, on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the Order of “St. John of Rila” 1st degree for his merits in overcoming the Bulgarian ecclesiastical schism in 1998.
May this visit herald a new age of fraternal love and cooperation between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and not only the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, but all the other local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches worldwide.
