Council of Europe Expresses Concern Over the Status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

At a recent meeting of representatives of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in the «human rights» format, the status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) as the sole official representative of traditional Orthodoxy in the country was discussed. Particular attention was given to the Bulgarian authorities’ refusal to register the «Bulgarian Old Calendar Orthodox Church,» as well as the amendments to the Law on Religious Denominations of the Republic of Bulgaria, adopted on January 31, 2025.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe recommended that the Bulgarian authorities review the legislative changes and bring national legislation in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the rulings of the European Court. The Committee’s resolution highlights a systemic issue related to the «unjustified refusals» of Bulgarian courts to register new «Orthodox churches.» The primary reasons cited for these refusals were the similarity of their names to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church or the alignment of their religious doctrine with the official position of the BOC.

The Council of Europe expressed concern that recognizing the BOC as the sole representative of the Orthodox faith in Bulgaria could lead to the continued practice of denying registration to other religious organizations identifying themselves as Orthodox. International experts emphasize the importance of upholding the principles of religious freedom and pluralism in Bulgaria, in accordance with European human rights standards.

It should be recalled that the Bulgarian Parliament introduced amendments to the Law «On Religions,» which stipulate that only the Bulgarian Orthodox Church may use the designation «Orthodox» in relation to registered religious organizations in the country. The decision was supported by 186 deputies, with only one parliamentarian voting against it. This measure was adopted to prevent the registration of other religious organizations in the country that intended to include an affiliation with the Orthodox faith in their official name.