Coalition “BSP - United Left“ finds the decision of the Supreme Court of Cassation on the registration of a second Orthodox church a heavy blow to Orthodox Christianity in Bulgaria and firmly supports the position that the registration of a second Orthodox church marks the beginning of a new schism. This is stated in an official statement of the formation sent to the media.
Attempts for secular and political interference in Bulgarian church life are not unknown.
The first blow, during the governments of Filip Dimitrov and Ivan Kostov, was overcome with great efforts of the entire Orthodox community and institutions.
Now we are witnessing a second unprecedented encroachment with the recognition by the court and the registration of a second Orthodox church. There is no second Catholic church in the world. There are no similar precedents in other faiths.
This leads us to the conclusion that the purpose of such a decision is to legitimize a new church schism with the clear and visible support of the European Court of Human Rights, after the categorical refusal to register it by the Bulgarian courts in recent years.
The Church is the one with whose help the Bulgarian people have survived through the centuries. Through it, we have managed to preserve the Bulgarian race and history for over a thousand years - years of historical, political and social obstacles. Our people are closely connected to the Orthodox faith and church. Now, with one decision, this millennial connection is being brazenly encroached upon.
The coalition „BSP - United Left“ calls on Bulgarian society to stand behind Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil in support of the Holy Bulgarian Orthodox Church.