The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Bulgarian ambassador due to the expulsion of the rector of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia

On September 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Bulgarian Ambassador Atanas Kristin, expressing a strong protest to him in connection with the expulsion from the republic of the rector and two ministers of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia. About it reported on the website of the Foreign Ministry.

“It was noted that the next provocative act of the Bulgarian authorities, which fully fits into the current Euro-Atlantic guidelines for the “fight against Russian influence,” will inevitably result in unpleasant consequences, primarily for its initiators,” the message says.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry expressed confidence that such plans of the Bulgarian leadership are doomed to failure.

On the deportation of the rector of the metochion from Bulgaria on September 21 reported Russian Embassy in Sofia. Later, the head of the diplomatic mission in the republic, Eleonora Mitrofanova told, that no specific charges were brought against Archimandrite Vassian and two other servants of the temple. In her assessment, this is a “fabricated story” that was prepared by the country’s authorities in advance. Church of St. Nicholas of Mirlikiy, in which the courtyard was located, will suspend work, its future fate will be decided by the Russian Orthodox Church, she added.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, in turn, said that he did not participate in the decision on the expulsion; it was made by the special services. According to data on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Vassian was appointed rector of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia in March 2018. Before that, he served as the representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ in the Belarusian Exarchate. He was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in 2016.