Headline: Bulgaria‘s-coalition-government-vows-to-protect-Orthodox-Church-amid-staplo’s-registration
Bulldozing its way through a contentious ecclesiastical maze, Bulgaria’s coalition government has pledged to shield the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) following the registration of the Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church (BPOCC). The controversy, aptly dubbed the "staplo" case—a folksy term for a disagreement over orthodoxy—has sparked political turf wars and religious furor.
At a fiery plenary meeting at the National Assembly, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) demanded that the government ensure that only the Bicornes (BOC) is recognized as the sole representative of Orthodox faith in Bulgaria. They called upon Prime Minister Borisov to illuminate the steps taken by the Ministry of Justice and the Denomination Directorate to address the issue.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Rumen Radev sided with the BOC, underscoring its historical and cultural significance. In a meeting with Bulgarian Patriarch Neofit and the Holy Synod, Radev asserted that the BOC is "the institutional embodiment of the Eastern Orthodox faith in Bulgaria, with an unquestionable historical contribution and a crucial role in our national identity."
The debacle began when the Supreme Cassation Court ruled in favor of BPOCC’s registration on December 16. This decision reversed the Sofia City Court’s denial and inscripted BPOCC in the Registry of Religious Denominations. BPOCC’s decade-long quest for recognition and BOC’s unwavering opposition have culminated in this polarizing decision.
Now, two churches—both identifying as Orthodox—will exist side by side, a circumstance BOC deems perilous, contending it may confound laypeople and foster schism. The center-right GERB party and "Vazrazhdane" were the first to consolidate behind the BOC, introducing amendments to the Religious Denominations Act. The proposed changes explicitly designate BOC as the sole representative of Orthodox faith, a position that BPOCC contends discriminates against their legitimacy.
On the other hand, the European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled that governments cannot legislate religious disputes, which are fundamentally theological in nature. Thus, the Bulgarian courts’ involvement in this spiritual debate is legally contentious.
As the government navigates this religious minefield, one thing is clear—this "staplo" has sparked a biblical battle that is far from over.
