In anticipation of war in Iraq, Bulgaria's orthodox Patriarch Maxim served a mass for peace in the St Alexander Nevski cathedral on Sunday. At a meeting on February 13, Foreign Minister Passy asked Patriarch Maxim and Bulgaria's orthodox Holy Synod to pray for peace and unity of the Bulgarian people. Passy briefed the patriarch about the positive decision of the Parliament regarding the requested by the United States support in case of military operation against Iraq. On Sunday, peace masses were also served in Bulgaria's second city Plovdiv after the orthodox metropolitan called on believers to pray constantly for peace over the coming week.