In Bulgaria, Court Rules to Liquidate Old Calendar Orthodox Church

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Sofia, part of the Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church. Photo: Radio Bulgaria

SOFIA — On Oct. 10, 2025, the Sofia Court of Appeal made a final decision to initiate the liquidation and deregistration procedure of the Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church, reports the publication PIK.

The court initiated the liquidation proceedings of the religious organization and ordered its removal from the register. The decision is final and not subject to appeal. According to the publication, the document is published on the official website of the court. 

The case was reviewed by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal following a complaint by the Prosecutor's office against the verdict of the Sofia City Court. The first instance had previously refused to initiate liquidation, but the appeal overturned this refusal and satisfied the Prosecutor's demands.

With the decision, the procedure for the actual cessation of the structure's activities and its removal from official registers begins. The Old Calendar Church in Bulgaria adheres to the Julian calendar and is outside canonical communion with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church; liquidation means the loss of legal personality of the registered organization. 

Previously, UOJ reported that on Sept. 29, 2025, a meeting between Pat. Daniel of Bulgaria and Pat. Bartholomew of Constantinople took place in Thessaloniki

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