Metropolitan of Sliven expresses support for UOC clergy in Bulgaria

Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven. Photo: Bulgarian Church

Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven officially put a stop to attempts to question the legitimacy of the UOC priests and their spiritual mission among Ukrainian refugees. The corresponding statement was published on June 16, 2026, by the press service of the Bulgarian Church.

Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven formally rejected attempts to question the legitimacy of UOC priests and their pastoral ministry among Ukrainian refugees. The statement was published by the press service of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on June 16, 2026.

Metropolitan Arseniy firmly dismissed claims about the "substitution" of Bulgarian traditions during worship services, describing such allegations as a "spiritual sorrow." He explained that the UOC clergy hold services in the same Church Slavonic language as the Bulgarian priests, using the same liturgical books and following the canonical order of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

“The priest serving in the aforementioned churches is a canonical Orthodox cleric,” Metropolitan Arseniy stated. “He was officially released by his canonical hierarch, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and was received into the Diocese of Sliven with the proper notification of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.”

The hierarch added: “We should be grateful to our Ukrainian Orthodox brothers and sisters for showing us what an attitude toward the Church and active participation in its life mean, and for setting us a good example.”

Exposing the systemic insensitivity of the authors of the “open letters,” the hierarch stated that the Church will not allow political sentiments to dictate terms. “No signatures, no pressure, and no public suggestion will change our spiritual principles and decisions. The Church is not a servant of fear or temporary moods, but a mother who receives those who suffer.”

He also added that “the Church is not an institution for the national selection of the suffering,” and called not to replace evangelical love with suspicion toward those who carry in their souls the wound of a crucified people.

The Metropolitan reminded that the national origin of a cleric does not determine his canonicity, and urged the public to rely on verified facts rather than on insinuations that generate unrest.

As the UOJ reported, the Patriarch of Bulgaria explained why his Church does not recognize the OCU.

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