Bulgarian Orthodox Church

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest autocephalous Orthodox churches in the world. The first Christians to arrive in Bulgaria were Greeks, and the church was initially under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, however, as Bulgaria grew in power and influence, the church began to seek its own autocephaly. In 927, the Patriarch of Constantinople granted the Bulgarian Orthodox Church its autocephaly. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church played an important role in the development of Bulgarian culture and society. The church established schools and monasteries throughout Bulgaria, and it played a key role in the preservation of Bulgarian culture during the Ottoman period. The church also played a leading role in the Bulgarian national revival of the 19th century. The church is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches.