The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has urged the faithful to pray for the repose of 37-year-old Georgi Kuzev, who died after a brutal attack by a group of teenagers in Plovdiv. The appeal of the Holy Synod was published on the Church’s website.

In a message marked by “deep sorrow, pain, and spiritual anguish,” the Synod said it had received the news of Kuzev’s death with grief. It called on believers, on the day of his funeral, to pray not only for the deceased and his loved ones, but also “for the Fatherland and the children of Bulgaria.”

Local media reported that the attack took place on August 4 at the foot of the Youth Hill in Plovdiv. The man was found with serious signs of beating, taken to hospital, and later died.

As part of the investigation, around ten teenagers aged 14 to 17 were detained. Prosecutors plan to bring charges against five—three boys and two girls. The investigation alleges that the teens attempted to carry out vigilante justice against a person they suspected of paedophilia. According to prosecutor Anelia Trifonova, the assault involved not only violence but also mockery and abuse, and part of the group recorded the incident on video.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Holy Synod appealed to society to resist violence and indifference. The Church cited the biblical commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” emphasizing that human life is a sacred gift from God.

The statement also focused on children and adolescents. Believers were urged to pray for the children of Bulgaria and to set an example of “justice, safety, and respect” for them at home, at school, on the street, and at work. At the same time, the Church called for prayers for those who committed the crime—so they may recognize the gravity of their actions and come to sincere repentance.

Georgi Kuzev was buried on August 14, BNT News reported. Plovdiv Metropolitan Nikolay, who officiated the service, said the true reason for Kuzev’s death lay in society’s inaction—allowing evil to enter the minds of children.

“Let us reflect on the causes of the glaring absence of love in our society—on the lack of compassion, the horrifying desecration of children’s souls, the complete loss of any fear of God, the utter loss of faith, and therefore the loss of all respect for the human person,” Metropolitan Nikolay said.