The Bulgarian President supports the reopening of the Halki Theological School

By Kiki Danaktsis

The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Georgi Parvanon, expressed his support for the reopening of the Halki Theological School and for the different problems that the Ecumenical Patriarchate faces in Istanbul, during his meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch, in the Presidential Residence, in Sofia.

During the meeting, the Patriarch congratulated the Bulgarian President for the harmonic collaboration between the State and the Church in Bulgaria. The President Parvanov thanked the Patriarch for his support as it comes to the unity of the Bulgarian Church. He also expressed his thankfulness for the contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the liberation of the Bulgarian prisoners in Libya.
The Patriarch congratulated the President for the Bulgaria’s accession in the European Union.

They also discussed about the unity of all the Orthodox Churches, something that concerns Bulgaria, and different issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
They both underlined the rebirth of Orthodoxy after the fall of communism in Bulgaria.

The Patriarch wished piece and prosperity to the President, the State, the Church and the whole Bulgarian People.

The Ecumenical Patriarch had a meeting with the Patriarch of Sofia, Maxim, in the Saint Alexander Church in Sofia and in the Building of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Sofia.

After the meeting, there was a welcome reception in the Building of the Holy Synod. The Ecumenical Patriarch left with the government aircraft of Bulgaria.

Source: