Untainted Bulgarian Bishop: Church Will Come Out Stronger

The Bulgarian Orthodox Chruch will come out stronger from its ordeals after the announcing of a number of senior clergy's affiliation with ex-communist secret services, said Plovdiv biship Nikolay.

Metropolitan Nikolay, a young bishop, was one of the very few Bulgarian metropolitan bishops to have no affiliation with communist State Security. 11 out of 15 bishops were revealed to have belonged to the services.

"In these days of ordeals for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, we have to come out and face the truth. But I believe that after this ordeal the Church will come out stronger," said Nikolay after a service Sunday.

At the same time, he was resolute that Bulgarian lay people need to know more about the Church's ties to State Security, and about the specific collaboration bishops afforded.

"Those implicated with State Security need to turn their prayers to God, for he is our supreme judge and forgiver," commented Nikolay.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is yet to come with an official position on the situation, as a prior text negotiated at the Holy Synod was scrapped due to revision on insistence of Nikolay.

Plovdiv metropolitan bishop Nikolay, 42, Bulgaria's youngest, has gained reputation for single-handed religious devotion, zeal and even radicalism.

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