Metropolitan with strong pro-Russian positions is the new Bulgarian Patriarch

Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin, known for his pro-Russian positions, was elected on Sunday (30 June) as the new Bulgarian Patriarch who will lead the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Since the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine, Patriarch Daniil has consistently taken positions against Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and against the recognition of the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The 52-year-old metropolitan, the youngest contender among the three candidates for patriarch, won the church election in the second round with 69 votes.

His rival, Metropolitan Grigory of Vratsa, received 66 votes, although he is known for his much more moderate positions.

The election of a metropolitan taking openly pro-Russian positions has displeased some Bulgarian priests.

‘Like a KGB textbook’

Archimandrite Nicanor, the famous abbot of the Giga monastery near Sofia, said on Nova TV that if Daniil was elected, he would leave Bulgaria and go to the Bulgarian monastery in the monastic community of Athos (Greece).

“It’s like a KGB textbook! Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria be happy! My patriarch from today is called (Ecumenical Patriarch) Bartholomew. Tomorrow, I am applying to leave the Bulgarian Orthodox Church!” Nikanor said on Facebook.

Among the guests at the enthronement of the newly elected Bulgarian Patriarch was Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova.

After the result of the patriarch’s election was announced, Mitrofanova urged the Bulgarian Orthodox Church not to recognise the independent Church of Ukraine.

Daniil succeeds Patriarch Neofit, who died in March after serving for more than 10 years.

Neofit had called for an end to the war in Ukraine, while Daniil supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a long video message broadcast in 2023.

The row with Bartholomew over Ukraine church

Russia’s war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has led to a bitter confrontation between Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who condemns Russian aggression, and Russian Patriarch Kirill.

In recent years, Kirill has emerged as a fierce opponent of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision to declare the Orthodox Church of Ukraine autonomous, which the Moscow Patriarchate does not recognise.

Russia recognises only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is under its control, while pro-Ukrainian priests are gathered in the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Kyiv struggles to gain recognition for its independent church from the other Orthodox churches.

Authorities in Kyiv say priests of the Russian-controlled Ukrainian Orthodox Church have been working subversively for decades among the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine.

Daniil criticised the Bulgarian government’s decision in September 2023 to expel the head of the Russian Church in Sofia, Archbishop Vasily, and two Belarusian priests accused of being Russian spies.

In November 2022, Daniel issued instructions to his priests criticising the tendency “to sow hatred against one of the belligerents (Russia), named as the sole aggressor.”

(Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)

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