Moscow secures a pro-Russian Patriarch in Bulgarian church elections
“I did not aspire to this position.”
These were the words from the enthronement of the new Bulgarian Patriarch, Daniil, after he was voted in by 138 members of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church electoral college on Sunday (30 June).
The former Metropolitan of Vidin, Daniil, was elected in a second round with 69 votes. The second candidate, the Metropolitan Grigorii of Vratsa, won 66 votes. The third candidate, Met. Gavrill of Lovech, won 19 votes.
At 52 years old, Daniil (secular name Atanas Trendafilov Nikolov) is among the younger generation of high-ranking bishops in the BOC. His actions, particularly in the context of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, have raised concerns about his pro-Russian stance.
After the passing of the late Patriarch Neophyte in March, the Bulgarian church elections became a topic of geopolitical posturing between Moscow and Constantinople. The Russian church clearly won the battle by helping to secure a Primate who is close to and echoes Moscow’s worldview, allowing the ROC to cement its influence in the region.
Daniil’s election was a surprise to many, as his name wasn’t among those perceived as favourites to win. Two weeks ago, the Bulgarian church Synod shortlisted the three candidates after internal voting. All three candidates had expressed support for Russia in the past, though with varying degrees.
Just days before Daniil was elected as Patriarch, he was interviewed by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). He blasted the Ecumenical Patriarch’s decision to grant autocephaly to the church in Ukraine in 2019. According to him, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was founded uncanonically, calling the church representatives schismatics.
“Patriarch Bartholomew has tried to legitimise them by issuing the so-called Tomos, a document establishing this uncanonical structure.”
In Daniil’s opinion, this uncanonical act by Bartholomew led to great divisions and persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is linked to Moscow in Ukraine.
“Instead of bringing peace, as he thought he would, he [Bartholomew] provoked an even more bitter schism in which literally the very people he proclaimed canonical began to persecute the canonical Church. Seizing temples, beating priests, killing - are these Christians? It is absurd, but the division is a fact."
Particularly problematic are Daniil’s statements on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, he compared the full-scale invasion with the pro-Western Euromaidan protests of 2013/2014. Those protests erupted because former President Yanukovych rejected closer association with the European Union.
“We accuse of aggression the country whose army entered the territory of another country and carried out military actions there that lead to human casualties and destruction. But what to call the financing and execution of subversive activity and the execution of a coup in the same Ukraine by a third party,” asked the new Patriarch in a statement he released to members of his eparchy two years ago.
Ecumenical Patriarch confronted with a challenging outcome
Many church representatives from local churches were present in Sofia for the election, including the Ecumenical Patriarch.
“Your Beatitude, we wish you to be an example to follow,” Bartholomew told the new Patriarch Daniil at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.
While pleasant on the surface, this visit was probably uncomfortable for the Ecumenical Patriarch as he witnessed another church slip into the Russian orbit.
Just a month ago, there was a sense of hope in the Phanar when a Bulgarian church delegation co-served a liturgy with the Ecumenical Patriarch and representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Although the BOC has still not recognised the latter’s autocephaly. This was perceived as a sign towards it. None of the hierarchs who went to Constantinople were among the top three shortlisted names for a Patriarch.
The Head of OCU, Met. Epiphany, as expected, was not among the names of the Heads of churches the new Patriarch commemorated at his first liturgy on Monday. Despite this, the Ukrainian Primate congratulated the new Bulgarian Patriarch on his election, reminding him of the late Patriarch Neophyte’s stance on condemning Russian aggression. He expressed hope that he would continue to do the same.
The strong influence of the Russian church on Sofia before the elections increased the polarisation within the BOC.
Archimandrite Nicanor, the Abbot of the Monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian (Tsarnogorski), resigned after the election. He stated that Daniil is not fit to be Patriarch, citing his problematic moral positions on the war in Ukraine.
Moscow has been watching the election closely, intervening at a crucial moment when the BOC hierarchs concelebrated with the Ukrainian church leaders in Constantinople. It then swiftly cut communion with those hierarchs, which came as a shock in the Bulgarian church, catapulting the elections into the geopolitical arena.
The leader of the rising right-wing party Revival, Kostadin Kostadinov, requested the President of the country to convene a national security council meeting amid concerns of foreign interference in the elections by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the US. President Radev denied his request, responding that there was no such threat.
Patriarch Kirill, in his greeting to the newly elected Patriarch, used the opportunity to underline Patriarch Daniil’s "commitment to the sacred canonical order and readiness for sacrificial work in the name of strengthening church unity.”
These phrases are frequently used by the Russian church when attacking Ukrainian autocephaly and the role of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Therefore, they serve as a reminder to the new Bulgarian Primate about his comments in the past and a signal for his expected trajectory.
Unlike Eastern Europe, where the ROC has a difficult time defending its canonical structures, the ROC is increasingly boosting its presence and avenues of influence in Southeastern Europe.
Apart from the long-standing friendship with the Serbian church, whose canonical territory extends into Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, the ROC also seized the moment and managed to capture the sympathies of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (Ohrid Archbishopric) over the church’s naming.
The question of whether Patriarch Daniil will spring a surprise is one to keep an eye on, but given his pro-Moscow record, it has contributed to a troubling start.
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If you found this article informative and would like to show your support, you can buy me a coffee or a pint. It’s a great way to say cheers.
I also want to share with you couple of articles I wrote for various outlets over the last several weeks which I hope you will find interesting.
The Tablet (1 July 2024) - Ukrainian Catholic priests freed in Vatican-mediated exchange
The Tablet (19 June 2024) - Blessed are the peacemakers
Balkan Insight (18 June 2024) - Russian pressure weighs heavily on Bulgarian Church election
Orthodox Times (5 June 2024) - Ohrid Archbishopric: Turning its back, first Prespa, now Constantinople
Church Times (17 May 2024) - Russian Church branded security threat to Estonia
Balkan Insight (3 May 2024) - Macedonian Church’s Independence Challenged by Constantinople Patriarch
Till the next one,
Andreja