Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Patriarch Daniil calls on the faithful to pray for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Photo: BTA

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil has called on the faithful to pray for the strengthening of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is threatened with closure. He presided over the holy liturgy celebrated today in the church "St. Ivan Rilski" in Pernik.

"Let us earnestly pray that the Lord will strengthen our brothers and sisters from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, enlighten the statesmen, give peace to the Ukrainian land. End this war, this fratricide", declared the patriarch.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law banning the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the official text of the law was published on the parliament's website, world news agencies reported. 

"Ukrainian Orthodoxy is today taking a step towards freeing itself from the demons of Moscow," Zelensky said on the country's Independence Day from the Soviet Union. 

The Russian-linked church has about 9,000 parishes in Ukraine – roughly the same as its independent rival, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was granted ecclesiastical independence by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Stefan Ivanov

Stefan Ivanov participates in a rowing expedition from Australia to Africa

"The Untamed" is the name of the team comprising four rowers from the boat Rannoch 45 '' Rose'' , who have set off from the western coast of Australia across the Indian Ocean toward Kenya, Africa. On board are Evgeny Sudyr from Ukraine, Liu Yong from..

published on 5/18/25 11:44 AM
Vesela Lecheva

IOC provisionally acknowledges the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of BOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sent an official letter stating that it will provisionally acknowledge the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC). This comes despite legal appeals filed in..

published on 5/18/25 10:48 AM
The Bulgarian pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka

Bulgaria Day at EXPO 2025 Osaka was marked with a special ceremony and concert

Bulgaria’s Participation in Expo 2025 Osaka will showcase the country’s modern image as a regional innovation hub, said President Rumen Radev at the official ceremony on May 18, which marked Bulgaria Day at EXPO 2025 in Japan. The..

published on 5/18/25 10:05 AM