Bulgaria: Where the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Patriarchate) obtains the forms that are used as baptismal certificates, i.e. whether the forms are available for purchase in stores in Bulgaria or are otherwise available for acquisition by the public; how the Bulgarian Orthodox Church obtains the forms; where the forms are produced; what the Bulgarian Orthodox Church considers to be an acceptable or genuine baptismal certificate; what insignia (Church seal or stamp, etc.) the Bulgarian Orthodox Church places on the baptismal certificates to authenticate them; whether there are regional variations in response to the above questions and, if so, in the manner (January 1998 - present)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 July 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR31903.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Where the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (Patriarchate) obtains the forms that are used as baptismal certificates, i.e. whether the forms are available for purchase in stores in Bulgaria or are otherwise available for acquisition by the public; how the Bulgarian Orthodox Church obtains the forms; where the forms are produced; what the Bulgarian Orthodox Church considers to be an acceptable or genuine baptismal certificate; what insignia (Church seal or stamp, etc.) the Bulgarian Orthodox Church places on the baptismal certificates to authenticate them; whether there are regional variations in response to the above questions and, if so, in the manner (January 1998 - present), 28 July 1999, BGR31903.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad4b2c.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A 13 July 1999 letter sent to the Research Directorate by the Metropolitan of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia in New York, states:
When the baptismal certificates are nearing completion in the central storage, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church/Patriarchate/ take a decision to print new baptismal certificates.
Bulgarian Orthodox Church/Patriarchate/has a printing-office, where we print the baptismal certificates. We call these documents-documents of true merit or securities. Only Diocesan Metropolis and parish churches can obtain the baptismal certificates from the Holy Synod warehouse. Diocesan Metropolitans ask His Holiness Patriarch Maxim as a Chairman of the Holy Synod in writing and the Holy Synod bless the obtaining of the certificates. After obtaining we are keeping them in the saving boxes. Parish priests ask the Diocesan Metropolitans in writing and the Metropolitans bless the receiving of the certificates for the parishes. Diocesan treasurer takes care for the certificates keeping them in the saving boxes. Parish priests are responsible for them in the churches. The financial inspectors audit every year their availability.
As you'll see the enclosed baptismal certificates are standard-Bulgarian Exarchate until 1953 and Bulgarian Patriarchate after 1953.
The Holy Synod place their seal on the baptismal certificates to authenticate them. The local churches place their seals and stamps on the baptismal certificates to authenticate them.
There are no regional variations in Bulgaria to the baptismal certificates. Only my Diocese uses the same baptismal certificates but in both languages-Bulgarian and English.
Additional information on the forms that are used as baptismal certificates in Bulgaria could not be obtained among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia, New York. 13 July 1999. Letter sent to the Research Directorate by the Metropolitan.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, REFWORLD, WNC.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact other oral sources.
