“Mr. Borisov is not a theologian. You ask me one question, I will ask you another. Is there a need for religious instruction and the subject "Religion and Orthodoxy" in Bulgarian schools or not?“ This was commented by His Holiness Patriarch Daniil in connection with the comments of GERB leader Boyko Borisov about Jesus Christ, quoted by bTV.
On Holy Wednesday in the National Assembly, Borisov used expressions about Jesus Christ such as “thorns stuck in his head“, “tied him to the tree“, “said “Tu-tuuu”“, “And because Thomas the Unbeliever did not believe, Jesus said to him – put your finger in the hole you want, but be careful that it does not come out the other side“.
Criticism followed, and from a civil initiative “Awakeners“ insist that Boyko Borisov immediately humble himself and apologize to the Bulgarian people and all Orthodox Christians for his words.
The organization called on the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as well as the entire Bulgarian society, to react and not remain indifferent to the words of Boyko Borisov.
According to “Awakeners“ no one has the moral right to use the Holy Scriptures, to distort them, to ironize them and to mock them.
On today's Holy Thursday, the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil celebrated the Holy Basilian Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky“.
In the words of his Holiness, today we must think about what God has given us, to taste divine love and to love him.
„Look at what the Lord has delivered us from, he was with the apostles for three years. Tonight we will read how when they capture him everyone runs away. Fear, fickleness, betrayal, lies. From all this he has given us the strength to fight and taste his divine love, and the fact that after the suffering and after the resurrection the apostles changed and from now on nothing can separate them from him means what we have received and what divine love is. To love the truth and to love one another, so that we do not abandon each other, never abandon virtue. "God help us," said the patriarch.
And 10 days ago, Education Minister Krasimir Valchev announced that a new subject, "Virtues and Religions," would be introduced in Bulgarian schools.
The subject is planned to be studied from the 1st grade, but without grades being written on it.
A discussion is scheduled on April 24 on what exactly the subject should include, and changes to the law will be proposed for public discussion in May.