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Bulgarian Political Party Slams Court Decision Recognizing Old Calendar Orthodox Church
Article:
A Bulgarian political party has issued a statement condemning the recent decision by the Supreme Cassation Court to register the Bulgarian Old Calendar Orthodox Church, describing it as a heavy blow to Orthodox Christianity in Bulgaria and the start of a new schism.
According to the party, the decision, supported by the European Court of Human Rights and other European institutions, attempts to disrupt the thousand-year-old bond between the Bulgarian people and Orthodox Christianity. The party, part of the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left coalition and represented in parliament, was joined later in the day by the BSP – United Left itself in issuing a statement that echoed the same sentiments.
The Old Calendar Orthodox Church, which does not recognize the 1968 calendar change, is expected to be registered with the Sofia City Court. The party calls on the Bulgarian public to stand behind Patriarch Neofit and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in support of the one true, pure, and universally recognized Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The decision by the Supreme Cassation Court, made on December 16, was made public through media outlets two days ago. It resolves the long-standing dispute surrounding the registration of the Bulgarian Old Calendar Orthodox Church, which operates using the Julian calendar.
Party of Green Development (ABV), which issued the initial statement, is a member of the BSP – United Left coalition and has representatives in parliament. Earlier in the day, the party stated that it would make a specific announcement regarding legislative action on the matter later in the day.
The Old Calendar Orthodox Church has been seeking registration for over a decade, with several monasteries operating under its jurisdiction since 1968. As of now, only the Convent of the Holy resurrection in Knizhevo, Sofia, remains under its authority.
The Supreme Cassation Court’s decision is based on a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which upholds the registration of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church without infringing upon the rights of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate or its members.
The newly registered Bulgarian Old Calendar Orthodox Church is not in communion with other autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox churches, and its head is Metropolitan Joseph of Tirady and Revekala (Triaditsa).
The church maintains 20 parishes across the country, including several in Sophia, with its cathedral, "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary," located in the Bاثiston district of the capital. The decision by the Supreme Cassation Court means the church is now officially recognized as a religious institution under the Religion Act.
In a brief statement on its official website, the church praised the decision, noting that it removes administrative and legal obstacles that had previously hindered its operations. However, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has not yet issued an official comment on the matter.
Patriarch Neofit briefly commented on the decision while speaking to journalists yesterday following a church celebration in Dрагоман. He expressed his regret at the schism and emphasized that the church recognizes only the Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, and Macedonian churches, all of which are Old Calendar churches but remain in communion with the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
