“The Russian Church of St. Nicholas is Bulgarian property, it has not been consecrated by Russian clergy and cannot be closed by the Russian state or by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church."

Metropolitan Naum of Ruse presented these facts in a statement on the occasion of the closure of the Russian Church in Sofia after the expulsion of three of its priests, accused of espionage in favor of Moscow. Subsequently, the Russian Embassy announced that the church would cease its activities and its further fate would be decided by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Bulgarian priest describes the locking of the temple by outsiders as totally unacceptable and calls on Patriarch Neophyte to immediately order its opening, as well as to restore services in the church.

MRF MP Delyan Peevski also called on Patriarch Neophyte to restore services in the Russian Church.

• The fate of the Russian Church in Sofia will be decided by the Russian Orthodox Church