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

Lukoil says it reserves right to seek legal protection in Bulgaria

Russia’s Lukoil said it reserves the right to pursue legal action to defend its rights and legitimate interests in Bulgaria after a special administrator took control of its local assets. LUKOIL Neftohim special administrator removes board chair..

published on 11/19/25 5:50 PM

EBRD to establish a technology center in Bulgaria focused on AI

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will open a technology center in Bulgaria focused on emerging technologies such as Big Data , artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud services. This becomes possible after the..

published on 11/19/25 4:58 PM

Numerous violations along Bulgarian Black Sea Coast found in inspections after the deadly floods

Violations were found in 27% of the inspected sections along the Black Sea coast , according to the control authorities of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Minister Manol Genov ordered the inspection following the October floods in the southern..

published on 11/19/25 4:46 PM