Навлизане на пазарните принципи в дейността на Българската православна църква
The Advent of Market Principles in the Activity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Summary/Abstract: Like any association of believers in a particular supernatural power, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church combines the characteristics of a ‘sacred body’ and a bearer of sacred powers with organization elements that require material resources for survival. This need is pressing in the present-day conditions of a market economy. Hence the article focuses on the way in which the Bulgarian orthodox clergy provide material support for the Church. In this perspective, the author discusses the legal frameworks in which the economic activity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is placed, the exemptions provided for by the Denominations Act, and the restrictions imposed by the Church regulations. The economic life of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is illustrated by concrete examples showing how Orthodox clergymen combine their religious beliefs with the market requirements of the secular world. In this light, the article considers the problem of the financial crisis in the Church and some possible measures for resolving it.

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