Проектозаконът за гражданския брак от 1936 г. и реакцията на Светия синод на Българската православна църква
The 1936 Draft Law on Civil Marriage and The Reaction of The Holy Synod of The Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Summary/Abstract: This article investigates the 1936 initiative of Justice Minister Dimitar Peshev to introduce civil marriage in the Kingdom of Bulgaria. In contrast to similar reforms in other European countries, Peshev’s legislative initiative was not driven by anti-religious or anti-clerical motives. Nonetheless, it was categorically rejected by the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The study aims to shed light on the proposed reform of Bulgarian family law, the arguments presented both in its support and opposition, and the reasoning behind the Synod’s position. It also examines how these issues were intertwined with the complex relationship between state authority and the official religion in the Kingdom of Bulgaria—Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The research draws primarily on archival materials preserved in the Central State Archives, including minutes of the Holy Synod’s meetings, documents from state institutions, and personal archival collections of individuals closely involved in the debate.

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