Supreme Court Registers Old Calendar Orthodox Church Despite Opposition

The Directorate of Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers has repeatedly opposed the registration of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria (OCOCB). The latest expert opinion, issued on August 12, 2022, and sent to the Sofia City Court, highlighted concerns about the registration, emphasizing the constitutional and legal framework affirming the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as the nation's traditional and unified religious institution, CE Report quotes BTA

Despite this stance, the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled in mid-December to include the OCOCB in the Register of Religious Denominations after decades of legal battles. The OCOCB emerged in 1968 in opposition to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's adoption of the Revised Julian Calendar. The court's decision faced criticism from Patriarch Daniil and various political parties.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev reiterated the government's position, stressing the indivisibility of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its significance to national unity. The Religious Affairs Directorate's expert opinion argued that the OCOCB’s proposed statute and name contradict constitutional and legislative provisions, stating that registration should not occur through the court system.