Information Service of PATRIARCH PAVLE DEPARTED FOR BULGARIA His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle accepted the invitation of His Holiness Maxim Patriarch of Bulgaria to attend the marking of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. Patriarch Pavle departed for Bulgaria together with His Grace Irinej Bishop of Nis and Archdeacon Stevan Rapajic. Bulgarian Patriarchate was established at the Third Clerical-National Council, in May 1953, and on May 10, the Metropolitan of Plovdiv Cyril was appointed the Patriarch. The Constitution of the Bulgarian Church became effective as of that date. The Patriarchate was being gradually recognised by local Churches, and the Patriarchate of Constantinople recognised it in 1961. |
