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Liturgy in the church “San Clemente”, celebrated by the Western European Metropolitan Anthony, preceded the worship of Cyril Petkov at the tomb of St. Cyril. Photos The author
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The Prime Minister Kiril Petkov bowed at the grave of the creator of the Bulgarian alphabet St. Cyril in the Roman Basilica of San Clemente.
A liturgy in the church, celebrated by Metropolitan Anthony of Western Europe, preceded the worship.
“It is up to us to continue the tradition of Cyril and Methodius and to preserve the Bulgarian script. Without culture, writing and faith there is no statehood, we will succeed with them,” Petkov said in a short speech after the liturgy.
“To hold fast the ship of the Bulgarian state, our dear Motherland,” Metropolitan Anthony wished him. This is one of Petkov’s rare appearances with the blessing of the Orthodox Church after the prime minister and bishops clashed over northern Macedonia. Due to the strained relations, the Synod even refused the government plane for Easter and Bulgarian priests did not go to the Holy Fire in Jerusalem.
This time, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov overtook Macedonia’s Dimitar Kovachevski at both Cyril’s and Pope Francis’ graves, with whom he will meet later today. However, the date of the holiday is reserved for the Macedonian delegation – May 24, while the program of the Bulgarians is scheduled a day earlier.
In the evening, Petkov and Kovachevski will meet at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Cyril wins the alphabet dispute with Catholics and Bulgarian writings are recognized by the pope as equal to Latin, Greek and Jewish.
It made an impression that in his speech Petkov spoke about the old Bulgarian culture, which formed the rest of the Slavs and is key to European civilization.
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