Patriarch of Bulgaria: We do not recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine — we support the UOC

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has not recognized and does not recognize the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), but supports the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). This was stated by Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, the message was published on the website of the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ).

"Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria stated that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church does not recognize the OCU and, like most local Orthodox churches, continues to consider the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy canonical, he said this in an interview with the Question of Measure program," the text says.

After the recognition of the OCU in 2019 by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church "did not raise the issue of recognizing this church at all" and has not raised it so far. Patriarch Daniel noted that such a position should not be interpreted as dependence on Moscow. He recalled that the Bulgarian Church has not broken communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and continues to perform joint divine services with its representatives.

"Our position is the same balanced position as the other eleven local Orthodox churches," the Bulgarian Patriarch said.

It should be noted that on June 30, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria on the anniversary of his enthronement, thanking him "for the support of the hierarchs, clergy and faithful of the suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church."