On May 30, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted a decision on the impossibility of co-service with the hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church who have entered into Eucharistic communion with representatives of the OCU. This is reported in the journals of the meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

“The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed deep sorrow in connection with the fact that the hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv, Metropolitan Cyprian of Starozagoro and Metropolitan Jacob of Dorostol, Bishop Siony of Velichi and Bishop Vissarion of Smolyan participated in a service with representatives of a Ukrainian schismatic group, thus causing serious damage to relations between the Russian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches. The participants in the meeting stated the impossibility of co-service with the above-mentioned hierarchs who had entered into ecclesiastical communion with the schismatics. It was noted with sorrow that the Patriarchate of Constantinople continues to take actions aimed at deepening the division in Orthodoxy”, – stated in the decision of the Synod.

We will remind, earlier we reported that on May 19, 2024, in Istanbul monastery of the Patriarchate of Constantinople Valukli (the temple “Life-bearing spring”) took place cult activities, which were headed by the head of the Phanar Patriarch Bartholomew. During the service, the fact of co-service of some hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church with representatives of the OCU was recorded.