ODESA, NOVEMBER 12th, 2012, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE ― Metropolitan Agafangel has extended condolences to the Consul General of Bulgaria in Odessa Mr. Stoyan Gorchivkin over the death of Bulgaria's Orthodox Patriarch Maxim, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

Odesa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported today, 12 November.

The letter reads as follows: “Your Excellency! It is with deep sorrow that I heard the news of the death of His Holiness Maxim, Metropolitan of Sofia and Patriarch of Bulgaria, an ascetic of faith and piety, faithful son and patriot of the Bulgarian people, who in a dreadful period for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church preserved the purity of the Orthodoxy served his people and country with devotion for many years.

On behalf of the priesthood, the Odesa Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox community in Odesa and on my own behalf, I wish to assure you and all the bishops, priests, and faithful of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria that I join in prayer in your grief.

We pray for the deceased rapture in God of the spiritual leader of the Bulgarian people, whose name will be written in golden letters in the historical chronicles of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and your country. Lord the Merciful rest His Holiness Patriarch Maxim’s soul of in mansions of the righteous. Imperishable memories”.