The Bulgarian Parliament has approved amendments in the first reading to protect the status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC), according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). For the first time, Bulgarian legislation proposes a direct reference to canonical law within a secular legal framework.

On January 13, 2025, Bulgaria's National Assembly passed in the first reading a series of amendments to the Law on Religions aimed at safeguarding the exclusive status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as the sole representative of Eastern Orthodoxy in the country. These measures were introduced in response to a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Cassation, which permitted the registration of a religious body called the "Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church."

The amendments were proposed by members of three political parties. The GERB-SDS coalition suggested recognizing the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as the traditional religion of the country, an initiative supported by 176 MPs. The "Revival" party introduced changes limiting the registration of more than one church using the term "Orthodox" in its name. This proposal received 140 votes in favor and 26 against. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) – United Left emphasized the importance of the Constitution and canonical law in reaffirming the BOC's role as part of the Universal Church. Their amendments were also supported by 176 deputies.

The day after the vote, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel and the metropolitans of the Holy Synod met with Natalia Kiselova, Chair of the National Assembly. They discussed the importance of Church unity and support for the BOC in legislative and societal matters.

The Patriarch expressed gratitude to Parliament for the rare unity among political forces on this issue:
"For the first time in a long while, we are witnessing such broad agreement among political forces on matters concerning the Church and society."

Previously, in December 2024, Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation ruled in favor of registering the "Bulgarian Orthodox Old Calendar Church," a decision that raised concerns within the Holy Synod. In its statement, the Synod warned that the creation of a parallel structure threatens the unity of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and contradicts the Constitution.

The amendments aim to prevent similar situations and strengthen the status of the BOC as the sole representative of Eastern Orthodoxy in Bulgaria. The legislative process is not yet complete: after passing the first reading, the amendments will undergo further discussions in the second reading. Participants in the meeting emphasized the readiness of both Parliament and the Church to continue collaborating on issues important to Bulgarian society.