Sofia and Bucharest, June 15, 2026
Pat. Daniil of Bulgaria at Sofia’s March for the Family. Photo: bta.bg
The Orthodox Churches of Bulgaria and Romania spoke out against Pride events in their capitals this week, with His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil personally leading a family march through Sofia’s streets.
The Romanian Patriarchate issued a statement June 12 warning that Bucharest Pride “can lead to the accentuation of confusion of spiritual values in a society already affected by demographic decline and social instability.”
The Church reaffirmed its teaching that family is founded on marriage between a man and a woman and said public events promoting other models are met with “concern and non-acceptance.” It also reminded the faithful that the response of Orthodox Christians should be one “illuminated by peace, prayer and respect for the dignity of each person,” explicitly rejecting offensive speech or violence as contrary to the Gospel.
A day later, Bulgaria’s Holy Synod issued its own statement opposing Sofia Pride 2026, saying it couldn’t approve “the ideas and messages popularized through this event.”
Photo: bta.bg
The Synod warned against what it called attempts to present lifestyles incompatible with Christian moral teaching as a valid alternative to what it described as God’s established order for human life. It expressed particular concern about such messaging being directed at children and youth who are still forming their values and personal identity, invoking the words of Christ: “Woe to the world because of offenses.”
The Bulgarian Church called on parents to “watch over the spiritual and moral growth of their children” and urged state institutions and civil society to support the strengthening of marriage and family. The Synod framed its opposition not as a rejection of individuals, saying the Church “doesn’t reject anyone and never stops praying for every person,” but insisted it had a duty to “clearly bear witness to the Gospel truth and protect its faithful children from spiritual delusion.” True freedom, it said, lies not in affirming every desire, but in “following the truth that liberates man and leads him to the fullness of life in God.”
The statements came ahead of the Sunday feast of All Bulgarian Saints, which the Bulgarian Church said made the moment especially significant. The Synod drew on the example of the saints to argue that “the struggle with passions, including carnal passions, is at the center of Christian life” and that sinful inclinations must never be normalized or held up as models to follow.
Pat. Daniil led Vespers and a moleben for the Bulgarian family at St. Nedelya Church before joining the March for the Family that wound through major Sofia boulevards to Alexander Nevsky Square, where a concert followed.
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