Nicanor Mishcoff
A Blog of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University
It should come as little surprise that Bulgaria’s new government—which made no secret of its Kremlin sympathies long before last spring’s elections—has now stepped into the role once played by Viktor Orbán: blocking the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in the European Union’s sanctions regime. With Hungary’s new government finally willing to let Kirill face restrictions, Sofia has moved in to fill the gap.
When Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that Bulgaria would oppose Kirill’s inclusion in the 21st EU sanctions package, he offered this explanation: “I don’t care about Patriarch Kirill. I care about the fact that he is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is Eastern Orthodox, just like ours. I care about all those millions of people who are part of this Church.”
Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova followed on June 17, describing the measure as “symbolic” and potentially “counterproductive.” The statements set off a sharp public debate, both within Bulgaria and beyond its borders.
Weiterlesen auf publicorthodoxy.org
