Archbishop Kliment from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church praised Bulgarian President Parvanov for his efforts to draw closer the Orthodox peoples.

He recalled that the Bulgarian president was awarded in January for "extraordinary work for strengthening the unity of the orthodox peoples" in the Russian capital. "Georgi Parvanov is young and energetic and with his work contributes to the improvement in the relations of the Orthodox peoples," he said.

A delegation of the Russian patriarchate will visit Bulgaria in May on the occasion of the 50th anniversary since the restoration of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, the Bulgarian News Agency reported. Archbishop Kliment from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church announced that at a meeting with Bulgarian journalists.

The Russian patriarchate approves the adopted religious denominations act in Bulgaria.

Archbishop Kliment said that the Russian patriarchate was concerned with the schism in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and confirmed support for Patriarch Maxim.