Sofia, Bulgaria, 16-19 October 2026. Presentation of the IAO Volume on Mount Athos

The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, accompanied by the Organization’s Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, visited Sofia on the occasion of the presentation of the Bulgarian edition of the volume published by the IAO, entitled: “Mount Athos and the Orthodox World. The Radiance of the Monastic State in the Years of Ottoman Dominion (1423/24-1912)”. The event took place at the Palace of Culture in Sofia, in the context of the opening of an exhibition of works by Efthymios Varlamis entitled “Mount Athos in Sofia.”

At the opening ceremony, addresses were delivered by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew -who is visiting Sofia on the occasion of the 1,150th anniversary of the birth and the 1,080th anniversary of the passing of Saint John of Rila- and by the His Beatitude Patriarch of Bulgaria, Daniel. Furthermore, speeches were given by the Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Culture, Plamen Slavov; Member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Toma Bikov; Executive Director of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Iliya Petkova-Angelova; the exhibition curator, Pavlos Trochopoulos; and the Ambassador of Greece to Bulgaria, Despina Koukoulopoulou.

Speaking about the volume dedicated to Mount Athos, the head of the IAO highlighted: “Mount Athos is the living and vivid embodiment of what has been termed the ‘Byzantine Commonwealth’—a timeless expression of the profound cultural unity shared by Orthodox Christians everywhere, all of whom are offspring of the same spiritual womb. As a divinely guarded bastion of the faith -under the ‘watchful eye of the Great Church,’ the Ecumenical Patriarchate- it continued to fulfill its sacred mission even after the Fall of Constantinople, throughout the era often described as ‘Byzantium after Byzantium.’ In doing so, it played a decisive role in preserving the Orthodox ethos, customs, and values, ultimately leaving an indelible mark on the identity of all Orthodox peoples at the dawn of the modern era.”

Moreover, he added that “our era demands unity, cooperation, and a shared vision. Fragmentation, a lack of mutual understanding, and excessive individualism exacerbate the problems of the modern world -a world torn by various contradictions and conflicts. Orthodoxy must hold a distinct position regarding current developments -especially those unfolding in Europe. Following the collapse of the atheistic socialist regimes, Orthodoxy emerged victorious and reborn. Furthermore, there are already several Orthodox states within the EU, with others -we hope soon- set to join.

In an era seeking clear orientation -amidst the dust stirred up by materialistic, economy-centered imperatives and revisionist, ethno-racial ideologies- the principles and values of Orthodoxy offer a solid path toward a world of Freedom and Justice. This volume on Mount Athos aspires to serve that very purpose.

The Secretary General concluded by highlighting, as a fortunate development of the present time, “the agreement between Athens and Sofia for the mutual exchange of the remains of Tsar Samuel and ecclesiastical relics belonging to Holy Metropolises in Macedonia. It is a courageous step that forges unity among the Balkan peoples -grounded in shared traditions and a common faith- and one which we are confident will be followed by further similar initiatives.”

Among those present at the event were the Vice-President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Mr. Ivan Angelov; the Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Vasil Terziev; the Ambassadors of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Petros Demetriou, and of Austria, Ms. Andrea Ikić-Böhm; Members of Parliament from Bulgaria and Greece; hierarchs from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and the Church of Greece; monks from the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra on Mount Athos; the Advisor to the IAO, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis; representatives of the academic community; and a large number of attendees.

During his stay in Sofia, the Secretary General of the IAO attended the Divine Liturgy -celebrated by multiple hierarchs- at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The service was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Varnavas of Neapolis, with the participation of hierarchs from both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Bulgarian Church. His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria were also present, participating in prayer. The former Tsar and former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Simeon II, was likewise in attendance.