Bulgarian PM Vows Support for Orthodox Church

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov (l) and Patriarch Maxim during the meeting. Photo by Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, met Thursday with the members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the cabinet press office informs.

The meeting has been requested by the Synod to ask State assistance for the Church.

The agenda included discussions on the property ownership of churches, the statute of clergy, and the opportunities for the Church to apply for EU funds.

"Everything we do for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, we do it with great desire," Borisov declared, making the commitment to find a fast solution for the disputed rights of use of the "Alexander Nevsky" cathedral, which does not have ownership documentation.

The PM further promised the Synod they will acquire such documentation for churches, temples and chapels, used and managed by them for years.

The participants have also reached an agreement to have a group of experts proposing ways to settle the issue with health coverage of monks and nuns, who are not employed and do not receive a salary.

96-year-old Patriarch Maxim, head of the Orthodox Church since 1971, blessed Borisov and wished him success in serving the country and in keeping the rule with a strong hand for many years to come.

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