The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) has issued an official statement warning believers, the public, and the media about the growing influence of self-proclaimed "spiritual teachers" and associated communities operating in the country and abroad.

According to Church leaders, these groups—often led by foreign gurus—promote a mixture of pagan beliefs and distorted elements of Christianity. The Synod warns that such teachings can lead individuals into spiritual confusion and moral disorientation.

Among the figures named in the statement are prominent neo-Hindu leaders such as Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Sathya Sai Baba. Their followers are known to organize a variety of public activities—including cultural events, wellness seminars, and stress relief workshops—under the banner of "self-improvement" and "harmony." The Church notes that these initiatives often allow such movements to access schools, kindergartens, libraries, concert halls, and community centers, drawing in unsuspecting citizens.

The Synod criticizes the underlying philosophy of these movements, stating that it undermines the redemptive sacrifice of Christ by replacing Christian teachings with concepts like karma and reincarnation. It also highlights the moral risks of such belief systems, which, according to the Church, often deny absolute notions of good and evil, presenting life as a meaningless cycle and human beings as mere puppets.

“These ideologies not only erode the spiritual foundation of society but may also pose risks to individuals’ mental and physical health, family relationships, and social cohesion,” the Synod stated.

The Church called on Bulgarian citizens to remain vigilant and to critically assess the spiritual and philosophical claims of non-Christian movements, especially those that seek to appeal through seemingly benign cultural and health-related programs.