Lovech, Lovech Province, Bulgaria, September 4, 2024
bg-patriarshia.bg
It is commendable that Bulgarian middle and high school students studying excerpts from Holy Scripture and a general introduction to the Orthodox faith, but it’s also important that they learn the proper Orthodox interpretation of Scripture and Tradition, says His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech.
Orthodoxy is fundamental to Bulgarian history, morality, and culture, and knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical history is fundamental to understanding European history, His Eminence writes in a statement published by the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
And this is why students study the Scripture and Orthodox basics, His Eminence writes. “However, we know that there is a danger of incorrect interpretations in its explanation, which can render the study of the Bible meaningless or, even worse, form an incorrect worldview and harm children and young people.”
For instance, literature classes could present Christ and Biblical figures as simple myths. But “depriving Jesus Christ and the saints of their historicity causes great harm to children's consciousness and prevents them from properly understanding the educational material presented to them,” the Metropolitan warns.
Thus, Met. Gabriel suggests that a classic Bulgarian Orthodox text from the 1950s, Our Faith by Bishop Nikolai of Makariopolsko and Archimandrite Seraphim (Alexiev), be included in the middle school curriculum.
Our Faith “offers a spiritually correct, accessible, and accurate retelling of Biblical stories, as well as a general introduction to the basic truths of the Christian faith, the Orthodox Church, the life of Orthodox Christians, Sacraments, movable and immovable feasts, the hierarchy of clergy, the structure of churches, types of services and prayers, the need for a life of love for God and neighbor, and the meaning of human existence,” emphasizes Met. Gabriel.
His Eminence also notes that he informed the Ministry of Education and Science about the importance of this book for the educational system, “and we have their assurance that they will inform experts from regional education departments about its significance.”
The Bulgarian Holy Synod has also produced a series of high school textbooks on “Religion – Christianity – Orthodoxy,” which have the approval of the Ministry of Education and Science.
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