Pixel International Conferences

In the complex historical periods from the development of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Church has always played a crucial role for the preservation of the Bulgarian language, religious belief and self-consciousness. The paper traces and analyses the role of the Bulgarian church in the development of Education in Bulgaria historically and in contemporary times. During the five centuries of national dependence – from the end of the 14th to the end of the 19th century, the Bulgarian Church (BC) played a significant and multifaceted role in preserving the Bulgarian self-consciousness, faith and language. This role was extremely important and decisive during the most powerful cultural period in our history – the Revival (from the end of the 18th to the end of the 19th century). In connection with the implementation of the activities under project ДН15/4 “Creation of a Model for the Safeguarding, Promotion and Socialization of Churches in Bulgaria” a number of field studies were conducted in different regions of the country. It was found that in almost all the temples there were schools, which, having emerged as the so-called “cell-schools”, gradually became classrooms with a secular character of education. It is noteworthy that the inhabitants of the small settlements far from the center of the country showed a desire for education and enlightenment and with their own means and forces opened schools next to their churches. Nowadays, the role of the church in education is more educational. There are Sunday schools attached to the temples throughout the country, which are on a voluntary basis. The website of the Holy Synod, the websites of the individual holy dioceses and the websites of individual churches in the country provide information about the work of the working Sunday schools, which maintain constant contact with children and their parents and in the form of various entertaining games and activities acquaint them with the foundations of the Christian religion, together with the various religious holidays and rites. Only on the territory of the Sofia Holy Metropolis there are more than 15 Sunday schools, there are no fewer in the large metropolitan cities of Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, etc. The work with the children in the Sunday schools is varied and organized in an interesting way. In addition to getting acquainted with carefully selected religious talks suitable for kids’ age, there are various schools at the temples within the Sunday schools: acting, icon painting, children’s church choirs, and entertaining games related to various religious holidays. Observations and analysis of historical and contemporary facts about the role of the BC in the education and upbringing of children show that there is a desire to preserve and modernize traditions in this regard.

Keywords: education, Bulgarian Church, Sunday schools.