Bulgarian Christians under attack from skinheads and ultra-nationalists

In the small town of Vratza, skinheads targeted the local Church of God, breaking windows, daubing graffiti and wrecking the furniture. Some of the congregation received personal threats.

In the capital, Sofia, attempts were made to halt Easter celebrations by threatening to bomb the church. The bombers knew full well that, according to Bulgarian law, if a public institution receives a bomb threat, the building must stay closed for 24 hours. Despite that, the service was able to go ahead and 3,000 Christians were able to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection.

Evangelicals have been active in Bulgaria for 150 years. But recently, they’ve been targeted in a campaign to drive foreign denominations from the country. Opposition has come from ultra-nationalists and the Orthodox Church. Earlier this year there was a breakthrough when the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance was granted official recognition. But old attitudes die hard.

“I FORBID”

22-year old pastor Krassimer Partovski takes care of six churches in the area of Vakarel. He’s been beaten up by Neo-Nazis and harassed by the Orthodox Church and officialdom. In June, he intended to hold a church service in a nearby city, but the day before received the following from the mayor:

“I FORBID the conducting of open Christian service on 1 July , 1998, on the territory of the area of Kostenetz city”

A missionary to the evangelical church in Bulgaria stated “With threats still ringing in our ears, we request your most sincere prayers for the evangelical Christians of this country that they will be kept safe and their response to this treatment will be a witness of God’s all surpassing love.”

Whilst local officials can often be hostile to the evangelical churches, the government of Bulgaria has made a number of positive statements in support of religious liberty. In a recent letter, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria confirmed his government was fully committed to the European Convention on Human Rights, including the freedom of religious belief and observance.

He continued: “Isolated and rare cases of religious intolerance should not be linked in any way to the Bulgarian state’s attitude towards religious communities.”