Bulgaria plans to give official status to church marriage

Bulgarian government’s Directorate for Confessions prepares a draft law where the state will recognize church marriage. The first session on the question is to be held on February 22, ‘Blagovest-Info’ Information Agency reports with the reference to the ‘Monitor’ web-edition.

Among the participants are representatives of various ministries, clergymen of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and representatives of other recognized in the country religious associations. They plan to discuss amendments to the Constitution which are to give the same official status to the church marriage as to the marriage registered in the municipality.

The Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church supported the work of the commission and empowered two hierarchs – Metropolitan Hilarion of Dorostol and Metropolitan Neofit of Ruse – to preach church marriage among young people.