Today in the Rila Monastery started the sixth Ecclesiastical - People's Assembly. It began with a gradual resurrection of Christ, St. John of Rila and special address, delivered by His Holiness Patriarch Maxim. The Assembly opened the Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In his speech, His Holiness Patriarch Maxim said: "In pursuance of the eternal recommendations of the religious canons we should carefully consider the requirements to our contemporary society of good witness before the world".
The President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov congratulated the participants in the Assembly. In his speech, he said that the fact that the sixth Ecclesiastical - People's Assembly will be held exactly a year when it celebrates 55 anniversary of the restoration of the Bulgarian Patriarchate is emblematic. The president made a brief historical overview of the Ecclesiastical - People's Assemblies, held until now. Georgi Parvanov wished successful work of the participants in the forum and reminded them to be responsible in their task - to make changes in the canons of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Archon Slavi Binev underlined that his party "ATAKA" is the only one who wants the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to become a "national" church-like it is in Greece. More than 40 journalists from different media in the country attended at the Assembly.
Bishop Yoanikiy from Sliven chaired the event at the suggestion of His Holiness Patriarch Maxim.