The Bulgarian Parliament has passed amendments to the Law on Religious Denominations in the second reading, officially recognizing the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate (BOC-BP) as the sole representative of Orthodoxy in the country.

According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), the bill was supported by 186 MPs from all parliamentary groups, with only one MP from "We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria" voting against it.

The amendments prohibit any other religious organization from using the word "Orthodox" or its derivatives in their names. This provision was backed by 173 MPs, while 11 abstained.

The changes were introduced following a December 16 ruling by Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation, which legalized the registration of the "Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church." This decision was based on a 2021 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of "Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church and Others v. Bulgaria."

Now, all registered religious organizations have two months to align their names and statutes with the new law. Failure to comply will result in dissolution.

Some MPs questioned the constitutionality of the amendments:

• Atanas Slavov (We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria) argued that the law violates religious freedom and could have serious political consequences.
  Andrey Valchev (BSP – United Left) countered that Parliament has the right to make such decisions, stating that "religion should not be used for political purposes."
  Toma Bikov (GERB-SDS) recalled the church schism of the 1990s, warning that the state must uphold the canonical status of the BOC.
  Kostadin Kostadinov (Vazrazhdane) linked the rise of the Old Calendarist community to external destabilization efforts.
  Yordan Tsonev (DPS – New Beginning) stressed that the real threat to the BOC comes from external pressure, including from the ECHR.
  Despite heated debate, the majority supported the bill.

Radostin Vasilev, leader of the MECH party, called it "a crucial step in protecting the Bulgarian Orthodox Church."

The amendments will take effect upon publication in the official "Dnevnik Gazette."