Patriarch Maksim, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, has celebrated his 90th birthday and has become the world’s most elderly church primate. He remains a controversial figure in Bulgarian history due to his 33-year patriarchate, in large part under the former Communist regime. To mark his 90th birthday, celebrations have been held in Bulgaria, in the presence of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and representatives from throughout the Orthodox world. His Beatitude Maksim will also be honoured by the highest State prize, which will be presented to him by the President of the Republic, in recognition of his great contribution to the spiritual life of the Bulgarian people. John Paul II has also sent a letter of good wishes to the Patriarch. The Pope had met him during his visit to Bulgaria in 2002. In his tribute to the Bulgarian Patriarch, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the role played by Maksim in supporting and sustaining the local Orthodox Church during the Communist regime. In Bartholomew’s view, he “is also an example of monastic and Christian life”. The culmination of the celebrations came during a solemn eucharistic celebration in the patriarchal cathedral dedicated to St. Alexander Nevski. “At that time so many people were dying, but it was even more difficult to understand how to live and practice one’s own ministry”, said Maksim during an interview granted to national television, referring to his days under Communism. He was accused, after the fall of the regime, of having collaborated with the Communist Party and its chairman. An alternative synod, with a second patriarch, had even been created in Bulgaria in reaction against him. But now the situation has quietened down. “I have always placed the interests of the Church first insisted the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church even though I experienced moments of great difficulty”.
