Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

The Russian Patriarch Kirill published condolences on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church yesterday evening regarding the passing of the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte.

On Friday, the Russian Church in Sofia will be reopened, Nova TV reported. The first service is expected to be on Saturday. The temple was closed after Bulgaria recalled three Russian priests for violating diplomatic rules.

Patriarch Neophyte has appointed priests from Sofia who will take over the usual services in the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, known as the Russian Church. This was announced by the Holy Synod.

The head of Cyprus' Orthodox Church Archbishop Georgios formally assumed his new duties Sunday following an enthronement ceremony evoking the splendor of centuries of Byzantine tradition before an audience of clergy from around the world with the notable exception of the Russian church.

As he said, overall world circumstances have changed in the last ten years.
"We are all witnessing a very tense atmosphere and mistrust between countries, and this tension is growing and threatens to turn into a large-scale war. Relations have gone backwards, given that they have deteriorated so much," said Patriarch Kirill, reports Sputnik.

By George Gilson

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, the top-ranking bishop of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, has unleashed scathing criticism of Moscow Patriarch Kirill over the latter's decision to lend the Russian Church's full support to Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine, with countless civilian deaths and brutal murders.

The ruble will be introduced in the Russian-controlled Kherson region of Ukraine on May 1, a spokesman for the region's pro-Russian military-civil administration said.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov announced a public campaign for raising financial resources for the Ukrainian government on the social network Facebook

"I call on every Bulgarian citizen who really wants to help Ukraine to donate one salary, like me. Words are easy, things are difficult, it's time for Facebook posts to become funds for Ukraine," he said.

A bill banning the Russian Orthodox Church has been submitted to Ukraine's parliament, the country's media reported.

The Orthodox Church in Russia has urged women to refrain from abortions and instead give their children to church institutions.

"Give birth to the child and hand it over to us, the Church, and we will do everything we can to raise it and get it on its feet," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, said Patriarch Kirill, said in a video address.