Religious Identity in Bulgaria during the Communist Regime. The Case of Orthodox Christianity and Islam

March 2017 Issue 27

Ralena Nikolaeva Gerasimova

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

e-mail: stojchevap@phls.uni-sofia.bg

Abstract: The purpose of this essay is to analyse the state of the religious identity in Bulgaria during the communist regime from 1944 to 1989. The text deals with the two main religions in Bulgaria – Orthodox Christianity and Islam and it aims to answer the following questions: What was the communist ideology’s view on religion? How was this policy applied in Bulgaria by the Bulgarian Communist Party? What was the effect on the two religions? Was there a different approach towards each one and how did the identities of the two communities react to those approaches?

Keywords: religious identity, religion, Bulgarian religious identity, communism, religious identity under communism, Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Islam.

Rhetoric and Communications E-journal, Issue 27, March 2017, rhetoric.bg/, journal.rhetoric.bg, ISSN 1314-4464

Read the original of the text (in English)