Russian Russian Patriarch and Metropolitan Neophyte of Sofia appointed clergy to work in the Russian Church of Sofia - the patriarchal compound of the Russian Orthodox Church in Bulgaria - and informed Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia about what was happening. This is stated in the message of the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

"By his order, His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte, fulfilling his obligations as Metropolitan of Sofia, in whose diocese the Church of St. Nicholas is located (the Russian Church - approx. TASS), personally appointed priests from Sofia, who will take care of the temple and will perform the usual services. The Archdiocese of Sofia guarantees that no part of the church's property will be lost or damaged. Believers will also be able to worship the relics of St. Seraphim," the message says.
It is emphasized that the action of Patriarch Neophyte is dictated by concern for the faithful, and all necessary secular legal and administrative issues will be discussed at the meeting of the Synod of the BOC scheduled for October 3.

"His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria informed Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia by letter about the actions taken," the statement reads.
Patriarch Neophyte is waiting for the assistance of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria in opening the church and continuing its work.

The situation with the church

On September 21, the State Agency for National Security decided to expel three representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church from the country, headed by Archimandrite Vassian, the rector of the metochion in Sofia, another clergyman and the driver of the rector. The agency imposed a number of measures against them - expulsion, a ban on staying in the country and a ban on entering Bulgaria for five years, motivating this allegedly "a hybrid strategy of the Russian Federation to exert a targeted impact on socio-political processes in Bulgaria in favor of Russian geopolitical interests." It was pointed out that the activities of these representatives of the ROC are directed against the national security and interests of the republic.

The Russian Embassy in Bulgaria noted that the church was closed due to the physical inability to continue working after the expulsion of the clergy, and "the decision on the future fate of the church will be made by the ROC."

According to the materials of TASS