Translation:Augusto Bonetti to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith

Augusto Bonetti to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith

12th March 1892

Apostolic Vicariate No. 278 12th March 1892 Constantinople

To the Holy Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith Rome

Your Excellency,

In connection with Your esteemed letter of 20th January 1892, No. 12342, I inform You that the Metropolitan of Skopje, Theodosius, was yesterday deprived of his Skopje throne by decision of the Exarchate Religious Court and it was determined that he should be immediately sent to Sofia, for a forced stay in a monastery. During his sojourn in Constantinople, Metropolitan Theodosius attempted on two occasions to see me, asking in this respect our priest, the reverend father Ivan Nelidov. I, however, declined to meet him in person, indicating that I was awaiting the reply of His Holiness, who was the sole person to decide upon the question. I am taking the liberty of stating my opinion here, Your Eminence. If we had acted more effectively, we could have celebrated an important success for God's work. Please let me recommend that we should not in future reject the idea of accepting the Macedonian flock under the wing of our Holy Church. It would be good to recommend our archbishop in Plovdiv to get into contact with the Metropolitan staying in Sofia.

Your Eminence, my suggestion is based upon confirmed reports from Macedonia, where the congregation of the Skopje eparchy, as well as the whole of Macedonia, reacted strongly against the replacement of Metropolitan Theodosius and declared that they were ready to pass into union with our Holy Church.

I recommend myself to Your prayers and remain faithfully

Yours Apostolic Delegate Augusto Bonettt

A. della S. C. P. F. - Marzo 1892-93. Somm. XV, f. 132-141;