The Bulgarian Parliament has taken a significant step in the country’s education system by approving in its first reading a bill to introduce a new mandatory course titled “Virtues and Religions” into secondary schools. The bill, passed on October 8, 2025, aims to restore spiritual education by including Orthodox Christianity as a core component.

The legislation was approved with 169 votes in favor, 3 against, and 28 abstentions, according to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s Patriarchate press service and the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA).

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church warmly welcomed the development, noting that it revives a tradition of spiritual upbringing interrupted during the atheist regime. The Synod expressed hope that the implementation of the course would successfully conclude and spiritually benefit the youth of the nation. “We pray that this process will bring lasting spiritual fruit to the children and young people of our Fatherland,” the Synod stated.

The course will be offered as an elective with students choosing between “Religion – Orthodoxy,” “Religion – Islam,” or “Virtues/Ethics.” While the course is introduced as mandatory, attendance will not be compulsory for every student, and no grades will be assigned, minimizing pressure on learners. Qualified instructors will be appointed to ensure respectful and inclusive teaching across different faiths.

The introduction of “Virtues and Religions” has been widely debated throughout the past year in Bulgaria, intended to replace the existing elective “Religion” course. Despite initial plans for a fully mandatory subject, it will function as a required option rather than a compulsory course for all.

Public response has been significant; in May 2025, thousands marched in Sofia in support of the new subject, an event organized by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church with backing from various civil organizations.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church views the course as a vital move toward reviving spiritual traditions and moral education among the youth. While the curriculum embraces multiple religious traditions, Orthodoxy holds a central position in recognition of Bulgaria’s historical and cultural roots. The Holy Synod and Patriarch Daniel have repeatedly emphasized that the course’s inclusion in the curriculum allows the Church to more effectively contribute to shaping the spiritual values of the younger generation.