Diplomacy is something delicate. This principle applies with even greater force when it comes to church diplomacy. All this was clearly demonstrated in the words of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte during Michaelmas.

During his visit to Bulgaria Patriarch Bartholomew defended his position as Archbishop of Constantinople - the New Rome. Leitmotif of his speech was: "I am heir to the founders of Orthodoxy!" And he did not stop mentioning the unwillingness of his predecessors from the nineteenth century to recognize the independent Bulgarian church. He also voiced his approval for declaring the Bulgarian Exarchate in 1872 schismatic and described it as a positive act, opposed to "deadly ethno-phyletism."

At the same time, Patriarch Bartholomew contradicted himself, acknowledging the respect towards the ethnicity of each nation, including the right of having own alphabet. He even did not hesitate to quote the words from the speech of Bulgarian communist leader Georgi Dimitrov in Leipzig regarding the emperor, German language, and horses. Meanwhile Bartholomew addressed the Bulgarian Patriarch using “Your Beatitude”, instead of “Your Holiness.” This showed he views the Bulgarian church as Exarchate, not Patriarchate. He assessed lifting schism in 1945 as regrettable act dictated solely by the occupation of the Balkans by Moscow, threatening the very existence of the whole of the Orthodox Church on the peninsula.

Patriarch Neophyte did not stay indifferent and labeled Bartholomew "Holiness" instead of "His All Holiness." After that he paid attention to all important anniversaries for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - the 1150^th anniversary since Christianization, 1145 years since the establishment of the first Bulgarian Archbishopric in 870, and especially - the restoration in 1235 of "the high patriarchal status with the knowledge and agreement of all the then Orthodox patriarchs.“ Instead of recalling old feuds, he focused on the "unity in god of the two churches.” Which, translated into plain language, means no one can have claims of supremacy.

The scandal, however, was not limited to this. Upon receiving the Stara Planina Order, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew raised a question for returning relics and documents collected during the First World War and kept in Sofia - an issue that has long been solved through bilateral Bulgarian-Greek agreements and international conventions.

Who is winner and who is loser in the scandal? Most affected, of course, is the Ecumenical Patriarch who so far used to enjoy good reputation both among believers and among secular Bulgarians. His recent claims and disregard shown towards media is now difficult to swallow. President Rosen Plevneliev also made a mistake awarding the highest Bulgarian distinction to Bartholomew, but in comparison to other cases he reacted quickly and confessed the error.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov assessed the situation well and cancelled the planned meeting with Bartholomew.