Title: Bulgarian Church Affair: Unity or Division?
Bulgaria’s political landscape is abuzz with discussions around the recent decision by the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office (VKス), which has sparked debate about the future of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. On December 16, the VKス decided to register the Bulgarian Old-Rite Orthodox Church, a move that has raised eyebrows and triggered reactions from political parties and the church establishment alike.
Leaders of the GERB party, currently in power, have reiterated their stance on the matter. Party chief Boyko Borisov took to social media to assert that "the Orthodox Church is one," and its sole representative is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, a member of the One, Holy, Cathedral, and Apostolic Church. Borisov’s views align with those of the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte, who earlier today emphasized thatduplicate churches on one canonical territory is unacceptable according to church rules.
The registration of the Old-Rite Orthodox Church under the Bulgarian Religious Denominations Act has been a contentious issue. The newly registered church rejects the change in the church calendar made in 1968 and continues to adhere to the Julian calendar. This stance has drawn criticism from various quarters, with both "Vazrazhdane" and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)-United Left expressing their opposition to the VKсのdecision.
Patriarch Neophyte, who was visiting the Rilski Monastery "Pokrov Bogorодиchen" today, echoed Borisov’s sentiments. He categorically stated that the decision of the VKス的取り決め reverts the clock and is against the unity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
As the political and religious spheres grapple with this sensitive issue, one thing is clear: the matter requires nuanced debate and understanding from all parties involved. The unity and integrity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as a cornerstone of Bulgarian identity, deserve careful consideration and dialogue.
Keywords used: Bulgarian Orthodox Church, church unity, GERB Party, Boyko Borisov, Patriarch Neophyte, Julian calendar, Religious Denominations Act, BSP, Vazrazhdane.
Internal Links used:
- السابق intense debate surrounding the registration of the Old-Rite Orthodox Church
- Bari reactive to the VKS decision
- Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) – United Left’s stance on the issue
External Links used:
- Bulgarian Patriarchate
- Bulgarian Religious Denominations Act
- Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office (VKス)
