N E W S
NEW SECT AT SOFIA THEOLOGICAL FACULTY
24 June 2004
Ivan Latkovski who is a Senior Assistant at
the Theological Faculty of Sofia University in Bulgaria disclosed during a staff
meeting that he had left the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and joined the so called
Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church led by the Suzdal and Vladimir Metropolitan
Valentin which is not recognized by any other church. Latkovski admitted that he
was rebaptized, remarried and even ordained as ROAC priest. He tried to win over
some of the students to his new cause which created turmoil in the faculty. On
22 March 2004 the Dean Emil Traichev sent a letter to the Holy Synod headed by
Patriarch Maxim asking for
instructions although, theoretically, the faculty is independent from any church
authority. On 30 April 2004 The Synod responded that Latkovski "should no
longer be a lecturer at the Theology Faculty" and it "expects his
repentance and return" to the canonical Bulgarian Patriarchate.
Tsurkoven vestnik, 10, 16-31.5.2004
Archim. Dr. Pavel Stefanov