Orthodox Split Deepens
The split in the Bulgarian Orthodox church after the fall of the communist regime considerably deepened last week, when the police expelled priests “reformers” from the Alternative Synod under the demand of the “conservative” Synod headed by Patriarch Maxim. The police temporarily closed approximately 250 churches, monasteries and religious buildings used by the alternative synod, 18 of which are located in the capital Sofia. The Alternative Synod accused Patriarch Maxim of serving the former communist regime. In Sofia, two of the priests “reformers” from the “St. Parashkeva” church and “The Assumption” church were arrested. The Police had ensured access to the churches of the “conservatives” under the order of the Prosecutor’s Office.
Sofia City Prosecutor Boiko Naidenov announced that the decision for the involvement of the police was taken when the Orthodox Church turned to the authorities for help against “people that impede the functions of the church”. Naidenov grounded himself on the Confessional Act passed in 2003, which allows the use of force against “people that abuse the heritage of the religious community”. A court investigation has already begun against the Alternative Synod, the magistrate stated. The priests-reformers in response, introduced a form of “church in the open” in the garden in front of the “St. Sofia” church in Sofia to protest against the non-clerical measures undertaken against them.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which claims eighty percent of the population of the country, experienced a schism after the fall of the communist regime in 1989. The Reformers, however, accuse Patriarch Maxim, who was elected for life in 1971, of cooperating with the communists and demanded that he be expelled. The Alternative Synod is currently led by Bishop Inokentii, elected in July 1996, after the death of patriarch Pimen. “Our problem is Patriarch Maxim. We cannot bow to a political bureau of the Communist Party,” stated bishop Inokentii. The arrest of priests with order of the Prosecutors’ Office is “the ultimate blow against the Orthodox religion, and worst of all is that this makes the faithful renounce from the church”, he said.
The Alternative Synod receives the support of the Union of the Democratic Forces (UDF) – the oppositional rightist party in Bulgaria. The party reacted sharply and strongly condemned the acts of the police, considering the lack of court decision for the actions. “This is not the way the wholeness of the Bulgarian Orthodox church should be restored”, commented former President of Bulgaria Petar Stoyanov. According to him, such acts will only deepen the conflict between the Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria. “Our main concern is the wholeness of the church. Patriarch Maxim is waiting for the stretched hands of the repented (reformers) to go back to the House of God”, said Father Nikolay, one of the “conservators”. State authorities, in its turn, are continuing to perform the role of a conciliator even after Bulgaria Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha swore to the Cross and the Gospel in the presence of Patriarch Maxim when he was sworn in at the position of prime Minister in 2001. The same did the newly elected Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov in January 2002.
Bulgarian Orthodoxy in Crisis
July 25, 2004: Bulgaria should not allow religion and policy to be mixed, Parliamentary Speaker Ognyan Gerdhzikov said. In an interview for the private bTV channel Gerzdhikov said the new law used as a base for the July 21 church raids was voted in 2002 aiming to overcome the schism of the Bulgarian Church. Last Wednesday police stormed through 250 churches countrywide and detained many priests in a controversial raid to restore proprietorship of official Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Gerdzhikov pointed out that the Prosecutor’s order for the raid was legal, underlining, however, that the measures taken were not proper. The problem following the schism of the Bulgarian Church has established two Orthodox community centers, one headed by Patriarch Maxim and the other claiming he had been “appointed” by ex-communist regime.
July 24, 2004: Current arguments in the Bulgarian Church are due to real estate ownership according to Justice Minister Anton Stankov. Stankov explained that the police actions were legal. On July 21 police stormed through 250 churches countrywide and detained many priests in a controversial raid to restore proprietorship of official Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The problem following the schism of the Bulgarian Church has established two Orthodox community centers, one headed by Patriarch Maxim and the other claiming he had been “appointed” by ex-communist regime.
July 23, 2004: The Supreme Cassation Court initiated legal proceedings against the so-called Alternative Synod of Inokentiy. One of the charges is illegal possession of property. The case has been referred to the National Security Service. Meanwhile, Inkentiy and priests from his synod demanded the resignation of chief prosecutor Nikola Filchev because of his interference in church activities. The priests met with MPs. However, no MPs from the National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) and from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) attended the meeting. Inokentiy said that he struggled for the churches, not for the church properties. Bulgarian ex PM and leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria Ivan Kostov read a declaration of the United Democratic Forces saying that some Bulgarian state institutions violate basic human rights and freedoms. MP from the NMSII Borislav Ralchev tried to deny the attacks against the Government saying that the issue was not about state interference in the church activities. “There is no alternative synod. There is just one synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church”, leader of the parliamentary faction of the New Time Miroslav Sevlievski said. The church, the Holy Synod and Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim have to decide on the solution of the problem, BSP MP Tatyana Doncheva said.
July 22, 2004: Priests from the dissident clergy headed by Metropolitan Inokentii served a mass in font of the Saint Sofia church in Bulgaria’s capital. The holy men protest against yesterday’s controversial police raids to restore proprietorship of official Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Later on Thursday representatives of the dissident clergy headed by Metropolitan Inokentii met with MPs from all Parliamentary Groups except for the Bulgarian socialists. The holy men urged for the resignation of Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor Nikola Filchev. Police stormed through 250 churches countrywide and detained many priests Wednesday. The problem following the schism of Bulgarian Church has established two Orthodox community centers, one headed by Patriarch Maxim and the other claiming he had been “appointed” by ex-communist regime.
July 21, 2004: Bulgarian policemen scuffle with a priest as they detain him Wednesday at St Parashkeva church in Sofia July. Police tried to force dissident clergy from 18 local churches in an escalating schism in Bulgarian Orthodox community. Police stormed through 250 churches countrywide and detained many priests Wednesday in a controversial raid to restore proprietorship of official Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The problem following the schism of Bulgarian Church, dating three years ago, has established two Orthodox community centers, one headed by Patriarch Maxim and the other claiming he had been “appointed” by ex-communist regime. In Sofia alone, priests were forcefully dragged out of 18 churches alongside present laypeople. The dissident clergy headed by Father Inokentii is determined to stay vigil in front of their churches until allowed back into them. arises.
Freedom of Religion Declaration
Declaration of the participants in the “Current Problems of Religious Communities in Bulgaria” Conference held on July 13, 2004 in Sofia
To:
1. President of the Republic of Bulgaria
2. Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria
3. Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
4. Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Bulgaria
We, the participants in the “Current Problems of Religious Communities in Bulgaria” Conference held on July 13, 2004 in Sofia, representing religious communities, non-government and social rights organization and citizens, being apprehensive with the attempts of the state to be involved in the internal dynamics of the religious communities and protesting against the tendencies to use the religious problematic for political purposes without taking under considering the numerous protests and objections against the practice of the accepted against our will Confessional Act, in one accord appeal for the applying of the constitutional principles for separation of church and state and for allowing the Bulgarian believers to reach autonomic solutions for the existing problems in their denominations.
We insist for the prosecution of the acts of encroachment on church buildings and the cases of aggression on the pretext of applying the Confessional Act, as well as for the actions purposing the inflaming of religious animosity.
We consider it to be unpredictable and dangerous for society to enforce totalitarian tendencies in the sphere of human rights after fifteen years of democratic changes in Bulgaria and on the verge of the country’s entrance in the family of free European nations.
Marketplace Radio Ministry
For the past four years, Cup & Cross Ministries’ weekly radio program has been broadcasted from a regional network that was used for Communist propaganda during the regime of 1944-1989. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to use this media resource for the ministry. Since the year 2000, the weekly broadcast has gained audience and influence and continues to play an important role in our work.
Several weeks ago one of our team members was at the Yambol marketplace and noticed a crowd that had gathered around a radio speaker. While the marketplace is generally accompanied with noises and loud voices, this crowd was quiet and focused on the radio program. They were listening to one of our regular weekly religious broadcasts. This particular issue was on the topic of fasting. Our team member reported the occurrence and followed up by visiting the marketplace again the following week only to find out that people had gathered around the radio speakers listening to the program again.
Our Bulgarian team reports that this is not a new occasion, as they have observed similar occurrences in stores, marketplaces and village squares since the beginning of our radio ministry. Keeping in mind that a great number Bulgarian and foreign radio stations, cable televisions and satellite programs offer a great variety of broadcasts in Bulgaria, this news brings excitement and encouraging among our churches. The Gospel of eternal life is preached in the markets and by all means this is the fulfillment of a Biblical mandate.
Profile of a Bulgarian Pastor
The following research is based on the survey of Barna Group, What People Want (1997).
We asked 100 Bulgarians of the most important qualities of the pastor, and they answered:
1. Makes decisions which are in the best interests of the people, even if those decisions might not be popular (29%)
2. Trains and develop other leaders to help (27%)
3. Strives things in church to be done right (14%)
4. Does not impose his personal opinion (13%)
5. Motivates people to get involved (9%)
6. Negotiates a compromise when there is conflict (3%)
7. Supervises the work of staff people (3%)
8. Manages the day-to-day details and operations of the group they lead (1%)
9. Creates the plans necessary to implement the vision (1%)
