Bulgaria to invest €62.5 million in rural churches and monasteries

Bulgaria, May 7, 2026

Photo: hristianstvo.bg Photo: hristianstvo.bg   

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food has announced a €62.5 million ($73.5 million) investment program aimed at restoring churches and monasteries in rural areas across the country. The initiative seeks to preserve spiritual and cultural heritage while improving living conditions in less populated regions.

The announcement was made during a visit by Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov to the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery near the village of Eleshnitsa in the Sofia Region, reports hristianstvo.bg.

Minister Hristanov emphasized that religious buildings have historically served not only as spiritual centers but also as vital support for the livelihoods of local communities. He noted that in many settlements, churches have played a key role in maintaining social cohesion.

The funds will be provided through an intervention called Preservation of the Spiritual and Cultural Life of the Population in Rural Areas, which will finance restoration, repair, and reconstruction activities for religious buildings, with the aim of preserving cultural identity and stimulating life in rural areas.

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5/7/2026

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