Studio 865, is our partner organization in Bulgaria. When the Communist regime fell, the leader, Stoyko Petkov, saw opportunities for Christian activities. Before there is openness to the message, many prejudices must be removed.
Protestantism
The Protestant Christians form a small but growing minority in Bulgarian society. They do not receive permission to provide broadcasts on national television -- without reason given, by the way. Although the freedom of religion has been anchored in the Constitution since the fall of Communism in 1989, the Orthodox Church enjoys preferential treatment in all sorts of ways. On January 2, 2003, a new law on religion went into effect that regards the Eastern Orthodox as the most important religion. All other religious communities must be registered. This measure is a potential danger for religious freedom in Bulgaria. The Orthodox Church leaders consider Protestantism to be a sect, which "true Bulgarians" must scrupulously avoid.
