BOC Patriarch Daniel calls for religious education to return to schools

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria. Photo: YouTube video screenshot

On July 1, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel said that Bulgarian schools need to introduce the subject “Virtues and Religion” so that children can receive knowledge about the Orthodox faith and spiritual tradition. He made the remarks in an interview for the program Question of Measure.

The Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church noted that the Holy Synod has a “strong desire” to see the subject “Virtues and Religion” introduced in Bulgarian schools. According to him, this is necessary so that children “have access to information” and can receive education “on the subjects of the Orthodox faith.”

Patriarch Daniel emphasized that such a subject would help schoolchildren acquire general culture and better understand both the past of their people and the processes taking place in modern society and the world.

Speaking about the reasons for restoring religious education, the BOC Primate said this was connected with the desire to “restore historical justice.” He recalled that “the Bulgarian school came out of the Orthodox Church” and was created by the Church.

The Patriarch also described the current unwillingness to know the church tradition from which Bulgarian education emerged as “not beneficial.” According to him, it is important that as many people as possible learn about the faith, be able to “encounter the Lord Jesus Christ,” and experience inner spiritual change.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Daniel supported Bulgaria’s refusal to back sanctions against the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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