Thousands of Bulgarians take to streets to support "Virtues and Religion"

In Sofia, a massive march took place in support of the subject "Virtues and Religion" Photo: UOJ in Bulgaria

On May 17, 2025, a peaceful march with thousands of participants took place in Sofia in support of the introduction of the subject elective subject "Virtues and Religions" into the curriculum of Bulgarian schools.  As reported by the UOJ in Bulgaria, it began at the Patriarchal St Alexander Nevsky's Cathedral.

The event was organized by the "Conservative Society" Foundation and the "Month of Family" association with the support of the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The proposed subject, titled “Virtues and Religion,” would be offered as an elective course and taught by secular educators, not clergy. The curriculum would combine ethical and moral education with religious cultural literacy, with a focus on the values rooted in Bulgarian Orthodox Christianity. Students and families would have the option to choose between this subject and a course on secular ethics.

“After 80 years of imposing atheism in education, parents are finally given the opportunity to freely choose whether their children will study religion. This is not coercion, but a choice. And today we are here to defend this choice,” the participants of the march stated.

At the suggestion of the Ministry of Education and Science, for the first time since 1944, parents will be given the opportunity and freedom to choose whether their children will study the subject "Religion" at school.

“They choose and are not obliged, as for those who do not want to, there will be an opportunity to study a similar subject based on philosophy and ethics, as is currently the case,” the organizers explained. “These opportunities and freedom of choice dismantle the 80-year mandatory atheism in education imposed after 1944.”

Patriarch Daniil emphasized that the new subject does not aim to make children believers or churchgoers, but to provide them with knowledge and moral guidelines in a world where spiritual support is often lacking.

"Faith is not instilled by force. Even the children of priests are not always in church. The goal is to provide information, to educate in goodness. A person must have a choice and know that there is another path - the path of forgiveness, of virtue, of self-control.“

The Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan Daniel of Sofia in his speech after the prayer service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky, thanked everyone for participating in the procession.

“I thank all of you who came today to support the long-standing initiative undertaken by the Holy Synod back in the early 1990s, right after the democratic changes, – the return of the subject "Creed," or as it is now called "Virtues and Religion," into the regular curriculum. We thank you for coming to support the initiative of the Ministry of Education, and we support Minister Krasimir Valchev for his understanding, valor, courage, and bravery in taking on this matter and restoring the rightful place of this subject in the curriculum,” said the Patriarch.

As reported by the UOJ, celebrations of the 1160th anniversary of the Baptism of the Bulgarian people are taking place in Bulgaria.

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