At its today’s plenary session, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church of the Bulgarian Patriarchate (Minutes No. 12/01.06.2016), had a comprehensive discussion on the issues concerning the convocation of the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church to take place from June 16 to 26, 2016, in Crete.
In connection with the Pan-Orthodox Council, the Holy Synod proposed to put it off and not to take part in the Council if the Bulgarian proposals on thematic and organizational changes are not accepted and implemented.
The Holy Synod has taken this position considering the following essential reasons and circumstances:
- The absence of items especially important for Orthodoxy on the agenda of the Pan-Orthodox Council as they are pressing and require a timely pan-Orthodox decision;
- The disagreements which have arisen and have been officially stated by Local Churches on some already approved texts of the Council;
- The impossibility for editing texts in the course of the Council as the already adopted Working Procedure of the Great and Holy Council shows;
- The proposed sitting order for the Primates of Local Orthodox Churches in the hall during the Council’s session, which violates the principle of equality of Primates of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches;
- The inappropriate placement of observers and guests of the Council;
- The need for considerable and unjustified financial expenditures in case of the BOC’s participation in the Council.
After the voting, the BOC BP Holy Synod unanimously resolved the following:
I. To insist that the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church be put off while continuing preparations for it;
II. Otherwise the BOC BP Holy Synod categorically declares its decision not to take part in the work of the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church set for for June 16-26.
