His Holiness the Patriarch meets Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Sax Coburg-Gotha

HIS HOLINESS THE PATRIARCH MEETS BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER SIMEON SAX COBURG-GOTHA

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Sax Coburg-Gotha on June 4, 2002, at the Synodal residence in St. Daniel’s monastery.

Welcoming the high guest, His Holiness the Patriarch noted that the opportunity for the head of the royal dynasty to return to Bulgaria’s political life and his election as prime minister of the country showed that the self-awareness of the Bulgarian people changed considerably in recent years.

During their talk, His Holiness informed the Bulgarian prime minister about the religious life in today’s Russia. “For many years we have strengthened cooperation with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and, through the Church, with the Bulgarian people” he said. Our countries have a rich experience of good cooperation, and the Russian people helped the Bulgarians to defend their national independence on many occasions, the Patriarch reminded his guest.

His Holiness also expressed his concern over the today’s situation in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. “We cannot but feel disturbed by the schism experienced by the Bulgarian Church. We hope that with your election to the office of the head of the Government the question concerning the legal status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its lawful property will be resolved”, he said to Simeon Sax Coburg.

The Bulgarian prime minister, in his turn, assured the Patriarch of his readiness to help normalize the situation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Answering questions from journalists after the meeting, His Holiness the Patriarch expressed hope that with Bulgaria, Rumania and other countries with predominant Orthodox population joining the European Union, the influence of Orthodoxy in Europe and the world would become much more weighty.