June 13, 2007  European Court of Human Rights Admits Bulgarian Orthodox Case

Dear Friends,

We are writing to share with you the good news that the European Court of Human Rights has declared that that it will admit the case of Bulgarian Orthodox priests who claim that their rights were violated when, in 2004, the Public Prosecutor’s office intervened in an internal church dispute and confiscated churches and monasteries. 

Their legal representatives have said that they believe the admission of the case, in a relatively short time, is in itself a miracle and an answer to prayer. The usual time for a case like this to be admitted can be up to five years.   They have written to express their thanks for all your prayers and have asked that you continue to pray. They will submit answers to the Court’s questions in the Autumn.

Many of you will remember the situation of the Bulgarian Orthodox priests who were violently thrown out of their churches and monasteries almost three years ago. They are members of the Alternate Synod – a group which does not recognise the leadership of Patriarch Maxim, who was appointed as the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church under the Communist Regime in the 1970’s. The group was forced out of their churches on 21 July 2004, after the State Prosecutor decreed that their churches and monasteries should be turned over to the segment of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church under Patriarch Maxim.

Police carried out the expulsion in a coordinated action across the country and in many cases entered the Holy of Holies in the churches to physically remove the priests. A number of priests and laypeople were beaten in the process.  Since the expulsions the priests have been forced to hold services for their congregations in the open air which, over the winter, means freezing temperatures, snow and rain.

In addition, since most of the priests’ education has been religious, most have struggled to find alternative sources of income. In a visit to Sofia, the priests told CSW how some worked two jobs, as taxi drivers and even shepherds, to provide for their families. One priest works all night as a security guard and during the day conducts services in the open air. Priests who applied for unemployment benefits were turned away and told they “did not exist” on official papers.

The delay in any resolution to their case has caused much discouragement and frustration, but the news that the case is moving forward in the courts is a new source of hope. Please praise God for this news and continue to remember the priests in your prayers.  They have asked that we specifically pray for:

• The general religious freedom situation in Bulgaria, that this should not happen again
• That Christ would be the victor – that the Church would be purified and that spiritual values would be given priority over love of influence.
• For the team of lawyers and legal advisors who will prepare the documents for the European Court of Human Rights
• That the ECHR will hand down a fair decision and that the Bulgarian government will comply with the decision.

Thank you for your continued prayers!
CSW Advocacy Team