Ecumenical Patriarchate praises the Bulgaria-Greece historic relic exchange

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has expressed satisfaction with the process under way to return sacred and historical relics from Bulgaria to Greece, BGNES reports.

At the same time, the Ecumenical Patriarchate expressed hope that the development would set an example for the return of cultural treasures from other countries as well, specifically pointing to the Parthenon sculptures.

“The Ecumenical Patriarchate has been informed of the agreement between the governments of Greece and Bulgaria on the exchange of historical relics and expresses its satisfaction with the process now under way to return from Bulgaria valuable and sacred objects that, more than a century ago, were taken from holy metropolises and monasteries in Northern Greece under the spiritual and canonical jurisdiction of the Great Church of Christ,” the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced in a statement.

The statement recalls that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officially raised the issue of the relics with the then President of Bulgaria during a visit to Sofia several years ago.

On 3 October, Bulgaria and Greece exchanged historical and religious relics in Thessaloniki in the presence of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece received 48 valuable ecclesiastical relics that had been taken from Northern Greece more than a century ago, while Bulgaria received the remains of its medieval Tsar Samuel.

Greece hands over the remains of Tsar Samuil to Bulgaria

Thousands welcome the remains of Tsar Samuil in Sofia

Edited by Ivo Ivanov