defenders conscience

Shumen

Movements and defenders

of freedom of religion and conscience

The influence of the developing ideas of the Enlightenment in Europe found a response among the Balkan nations. Despite lagging behind the economic and social modernization, the Balkan ethnic and religious communities participated almost synchronous in the national – forming processes in Europe. The first steps in rediscovering and recognition of own identity were in the direction of promoting the national language, consolidating around an independent church and later on establishing an independent state institution.

It is rightly considered that the first steps of the Bulgarian people towards national identity are related to Saint Paisius of Hilendar and his “Istoriya Slavianobalgarskaya (Slavonic-Bulgarian History)”, completed in 1762 – this was the first available work bout Bulgarian history. Firstly, it appeared as a mainstay of national pride and identity of the nascent nation; Secondly, it was of great significance for the protection of the Bulgarian language which distinguished Bulgarians from Greeks – thus it was called “Istoriya Slavianobalgarskaya”; third, its aim was to emphasize on the piety of Bulgarians, their loyalty to religion, to raise the national feeling. National awareness grew and developed in the movements for secular education and religious independence.

Movements for church independence

According to the status of the Christian church in the Ottoman Empire all Orthodox religious institutions are united under the authority of the Constantinople Patriarchate. In XVIII century in the spirit of national revival of Greek society, the idea of reopening the former Byzantine was widely spread. It was shaped by doctrine known as Megali Idea. Prelates were obliged to watch the spread of Greek language among all Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire.

In 18^th century (the time when Bulgarian nation was gradually emerging and in the Bulgarian society and Enlightenment ideas about reforming the church institutions were penetrating) conditions were created for demarcation of “gartsizma”, Saint Paisius of Hilendar, and his work “Istoriya Slavianobalgarskaya”, expressed the idea that a "nation with a glorious past has the right to a splendid future". His ideas were taken up by the first Renaissance educators to create a broad popular movement. The first signs of resistance against the Greek clergy were organized at the beginning of 19^th only in some cities - Vratza, Skopie, Samokov and others.

Church-organized national movement began with the so-called “Turnovo events " and in the 40s - 50s of 19^th century it produced a nation-wide coverage. Neofit Bozveli took the lead and supported by its adherents, take a number of daring attacks against the Tzarigrad Patriarchate. A guiding center became Constantinople, where at that time lived about 30 000 Bulgarians.

Another prominent leader of the movement for ecclesiastical independence and a follower of Neofit Bozveli after his death is Ilarion Makariopolski. The death of Neofit Bozveli and some other setbacks did not break the determination of the Bulgarians to continue fighting against the Greek clergy. The movement became even more massive and organized; thanked to the persistence shown they the first major success was achieved, namely the construction of a church in the Tzarigrad capital – St. Stefan Church. On 3 April 1860, during Easter service in Constantinople, Ilarion intentionally did not mention the name of the Patriarch of Constantinople, which, according to the canon law, is an act of throwing off his authority. A decision of the Patriarchate sent Makariopolski back to Mount Athos into exile in 1861–1864 together with the bishops that supported him.

The Bulgarian Exarchate (Bylgarska ekzarkhia) was the official name of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church before its autocephaly was recognized by the Ecumenical See in 1945 and the Bulgarian Patriarchate was restored in 1953. The Exarchate was unilaterally (without the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch) promulgated on May 11, 1872, in the Bulgarian church in Constantinople in pursuance of the February 28 (the Julian calendar) 1870 firman of Sultan Abdülaziz of the Ottoman Empire.

The foundation of the Exarchate was the direct result of the struggle of the Bulgarian Orthodox against the domination of the Greek Patriarchate of Constantinople in the 1850s and 1860s; the secession from the Patriarchate was officially condemned by the Council in Constantinople in September 1872 as schismatic.

Movement forn Bulgarian enlightenment

The educational movement started in the 20s-30s with the construction of several primary schools, after the Crimean War, became a nationally-cultural movement for spiritual emancipation. By uniting the entire people of the Danubian Bulgaria, Thrace and Macedonia in the common spiritual awakening, the movement contributes to the formation of the Bulgarian nation. Enlightenment movement contributed to shaping Modern Bulgarian, the emergence of new Bulgarian literature and art. In the middle of 19th century Modern Bulgarian formed the basis of the Eastern Bulgarian dialect.

Modern Bulgarian became material and spiritual basis for the development of Renaissance culture and the strengthening of national consciousness.