Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3582-4037
Abstract
This paper examines the historical development, contemporary legal framework, and public debates related to religious education in Bulgaria. The analysis traces the role of Christian (Orthodox) education from the Middle Ages to the present day, paying special attention to the dramatic changes during the communist period and the transformations after 1989. At the heart of the study is the question of the place of religious education in a context of democracy, pluralism, and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience. The article examines the current regulatory framework, the religious landscape in the country, and the various models for teaching religion in Bulgarian schools, including confessional and non-confessional forms. Particular attention is paid to the public debate on values education, the subject of "Religion," and proposals to introduce courses focused on virtues and moral development. In conclusion, the thesis is argued that religious education can contribute to the construction of a value system based on tolerance, dialogue, and respect for religious and cultural diversity, without contradicting the secular nature of education, but rather complementing it as an important element of general humanistic education.
Recommended Citation
Kaminis, Ioannis
(2026)
"Religious Education in Bulgaria: Historical Development, Values, and Public Role in Contemporary Society,"
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 46
:
Iss.
5
, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2729
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol46/iss5/4