site.btaPM: Government Disapproves of Registration of Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria

Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev received the Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC), Patriarch Daniil, at the Council of Ministers offices, the government press service reported on Tuesday. The Prime Minister reiterated the government's disapproval of the registration of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria (OCOCB), which became a fact in the middle of December.

The government's position is that, under the Religious Denominations Act, the BOC represents Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the traditional religion in Bulgaria, the press release said.

Glavchev reportedly noted: "The BOC's role was historically determined over the centuries and remains relevant today." He said believers should not fear a schism. He added that he is following the parliamentary debate on draft amendments to the Religious Denominations Act.

Patriarch Daniil thanked the government for upholding its negative opinion about the OCOCB's registration.

Earlier on Tuesday, the National Assembly Legal Affairs Committee granted first-reading approval to changes to the Religious Denominations Act. The proposals were submitted in three separate bills by the parliamentary groups of Vazrazhdane, GERB-UDF and BSP-United Left.