The Bulgarian Church and Other Religions

Orthodox Creed

The autonomous Bulgarian Orthodox Church is an important part of the Holy Orthodox Church. It governs the spiritual life of Bulgarians both in the Principality of Bulgaria and in the Turkish Empire.

The Bulgarian Exarchate includes all Bulgarian dioceses in the provinces of the Turkish Empire, as recognized by the Great Firman of 1870, as well as the dioceses within Bulgaria itself.

Population and Jurisdiction

In the Turkish provinces, about 1,200,000 Bulgarians follow the authority of the Exarchate. Another 400,000 Bulgarians still follow the Greek Patriarchate. Within the Bulgarian Principality, more than three million Orthodox Bulgarians recognize the Exarchate’s spiritual leadership.

Bulgarian Dioceses in Turkey

The Bulgarian Orthodox dioceses in Turkey are led by Bulgarian metropolitans in the following regions:

Ochrida

Uskub

Monastir (Pelagonia)

Veles

Nevrokop

Debra

Strouma

According to Article 10 of the Firman of 1870, all dioceses of the Exarchate have the right to be headed by Bulgarian bishops. However, fourteen dioceses in the Turkish Empire still have no spiritual leaders Balkan Tours.

Dioceses in Bulgaria

Within the Principality, there are eleven dioceses, all governed by metropolitans:

Timovo

Sofia

Plovdiv

Vama-Preslav

Dorostol-Tcherven (Roustchouk)

Vratza

Viddin

Sliven

Stara-Zagora

Lovetch

Samokov

Each diocese is further divided into vicarages and parishes for easier administration.

Governance and Laws

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is guided by canon law and church regulations. It is also governed by the Organic Statute of the Bulgarian Exarchate, which outlines its organization and duties.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church plays a central role in the spiritual and social life of Bulgarians. It provides religious guidance, organizes dioceses, and maintains the unity of Orthodox believers in both Bulgaria and neighboring regions.