Spiritual Education: Patriarch Daniel with a Revolutionary Proposal for Bulgarian Schools

23.07.2025 | Religion and spirituality

The Bulgarian Orthodox primate launched a large-scale educational initiative aimed at introducing a mandatory religious component in the national education system to promote the moral development of young people.

Снимка от Ukrainian Ambassy in Romania (Посольльство України в Румунії), Wikimedia Commons, под CC BY 4.0

The leading spiritual leader of Bulgaria – Patriarch Daniel, initiated a large-scale discussion regarding the need for religious education in the national education system. At an official press conference on July 23, 2025, he presented a well-argued position on transforming the curriculum.

According to the patriarch's expert position, introducing a mandatory religious component would significantly contribute to the moral development of the younger generation. He emphasized that spiritual education goes beyond traditional religious frameworks and represents a fundamental mechanism for social integration.

The initiative is already receiving broad public support from various non-governmental organizations and religious communities. They are organizing large-scale information campaigns and collecting civic signatures in support of the proposal.

The Ministry of Education is set to analyze the proposal, with the main focus being on the methodology of introducing religious education. Patriarch Daniel insists that the classes should form tolerance, mutual respect, and social responsibility among students.

The key message of the initiative is creating a comprehensive educational environment that nurtures not only intellectual but also moral qualities in the young generation. Experts are expecting detailed methodological guidelines for the project's implementation in the next academic year.