Sofia, June 19, 2023
bg-patriarshia.bg
On Friday, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church issued a call for the Sofia Pride 2023 parade, scheduled for the next day, to be canceled.
It is always the Church’s job to defend and preach the truth, the bishops write.
Especially concerning is that a special stage was to be set up especially for children to watch and participate in the LGBTQ event.
Unfortunately, the Church’s call did not stop the event from going ahead. According to The Sofia Globe, thousands of people participated in the parade, which was held for the 16th time.
BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD,
The Holy Synod of our Orthodox Church categorically expresses its disapproval and disagreement, and opposes the organization and holding of a gay parade on June 17 (Saturday) this year in our dear capital of Sofia.
Driven by concern for man, who is created in God’s image and likeness, we emphasize with paternal concern the primal truths about humanity and strongly affirm that homosexual behavior is a fully conscious and sinful alteration of God-given sexual identity. Sexual orientation is not a matter of choice, but is, as the pages of Holy Scripture testify, a firmly established given.
As pastors, we are deeply concerned about the growing tendencies in Bulgarian society, where the acceptance of homosexual acts as something normal and even natural among the youth is increasing. The preaching and the voice of the Church of Christ in the world, along with its ontological action, is to categorically indicate what is good and what is evil and to preach with paternal concern the Biblical and Christian moral values bequeathed to us by our Creator Himself.
Committing sins of carnal intercourse between persons of the same sex is unnatural and not inherent to human nature. Therefore, regardless of the circumstances of the conscious choice to commit this sin, the Orthodox Church cannot find an excuse for such actions and relationships.
The whole of Orthodox anthropology categorically states that the sole purpose of human life, including its bodily existence, is to glorify God. It also emphasizes Christ’s commandment: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father Which is in Heaven is perfect (Mt. 5:48); as well as the admonition of St. Apostle Paul: Glorify God in your body! (1 Cor. 6:20).
The Orthodox Church has always advocated for respecting the free will of man in the choices that determine his life. But at the same time, it has categorically defended moral truths without being influenced by the pressure of the powerful of the day, by the fashion and vanity of the time.
The Holy Synod is also deeply concerned that in organizing the gay parade, a separate stage for children will be used in the streets of the capital of our beloved homeland, for them to be live witnesses and even participants in this unacceptable event, for whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt. 18:6).
We call on all responsible institutions to do everything in their power to stop this act of clouding the mind and involving the smallest and purest of heart in this event, a manifestation of the highest form of decay in our moral and ethical principles in our society.
We offer a sincere prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ to enlighten the hearts of all who are preparing to participate in the obscene event in Sofia on 6/17/2023, to strengthen those who have the authority to stop the upcoming event and to enlighten to know the Truth.
The Bulgarian Synod has voiced its opposition to pride parades many times in the past.
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