The Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) has taken official legal actions by filing an appellate complaint against a decision related to the registration status of a religious institution. The document, submitted on July 24, 2025, raises serious questions about the interpretation of newly adopted legislation in the sphere of religious denominations.

The Sofia Prosecutor's Office attacked a previous judicial opinion that rejected the request to terminate the registration of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Old Style (BPCS). The main argument is rooted in legislative changes that came into force on 02/04/2025, which require substantial transformation of religious communities' names.

The new provisions mandate all religious denominations in Bulgaria to modify their names, removing terms like "orthodox" or its derivatives. Eastern Orthodoxy is affirmed as a traditional religion, which imposes strict registration requirements.

BPCS failed to adapt to the legal amendments within the specified timeframe, which triggered official actions by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Directorate of Religious Denominations at the Council of Ministers. They initiated a procedure to terminate its registration.

In the official appellate complaint, the prosecution emphasizes that the city court committed procedural violations. According to them, in cases of doubt about the constitutionality of legal texts, the court was obligated to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court, instead of making an independent decision.

The legal document emphasizes the principle that every state possesses discretionary rights to regulate public relations in the sphere of religious communities. The goal is to achieve a balance between national interests and individual rights guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.

The appellate complaint, filed in the Sofia Appellate Court, demands the cancellation of the previous court decision and satisfaction of the requests by the Directorate of Religious Denominations and the Supreme Court. The document raises fundamental questions about freedom of religion and institutional regulation.

The ultimate goal of this legal challenge is to achieve a precedent that will determine the future model of interaction between state institutions and religious communities in Bulgaria.