Русская православная церковь и Болгарская православная церковь во второй половине ХХ века
Russian Orthodox Church and Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the Second Half of the 20th Century

Summary/Abstract: The twentieth century is perhaps the most difficult in the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC). The author aims to explain the causes that lead to the tragic for the BOC events of the late 20th century, and the schism, which, unfortunately, still has not been overcome completely. Based on the historical journey, using archive materials, press materials and publications of researchers interested in the problems of the Church, the author comes to the conclusion that in many aspects the situation that currently “dominates” the ranks of the BOC is directly related to the intervention of state structures in the internal affairs of the Church. This becomes especially apparent after Bulgaria overthrows T. Zhivkov’s regime and begins the construction of a new European democratic state. The wrestle with the socialism heritage leads to the fact that BOC and its Hierarchs appear hostages of the struggle for power. The author describes the invaluable help that the Russian Orthodox Church has always given during the difficult times of isolation of the Bulgarian Exarchy, and pays particular attention to the role of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy I in an important for the Bulgarian Church decisions such as the removal of the “schism” and the restoration of the Patriarchate.

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