STATUS OF THE PROTESTANTS IN BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006100810004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 23, 2001
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: November 3, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

st;~~1~ d E a _ . ~ : 3 4`ii152'S U 0'1`
Approved For ReleaJ~40j~11,L dR~l8F0061 ~01
CODUNTP i
SUBJECT
Bulgaria
Status of the Protestants in
Bulgaria
25X1A
CD NO.
25X1A
I
NO.,
CASE DISTR.. 3 1T()V 50
NO, OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1X
1,, For a short time after 9 September 1944 the Protestants in Bulgaria enjoyed
religious freedom. Belief in God, though rejected by Communism was tolerated
in the country. In 1948 the Congregational Church services were regularly
attended by an increased number of people. This was also true of other
denominations,,
2,, After the trial of the 15 pastors early in 1949,,.# Protestants were labeled
traitors,. spies, and instruments of the western capitalists. Much publicity
was given by the Government accusing the Protestants of betraying their
country.
3. Following the trial many churches remained without pastors. In some places
laymen started preaching. In other places churches were closed by the local
authorities and services forbidden. Source has been told that the Church of
Mericr,lery is now being used for a Communist Party club, Many people were
frightened and preferred not to go to church. There were instances when
-people were warned not to go to church. Comparing the Sofia cI'-urches and
those in the provinces,, the province churches suffered more losses of pastors
and laymen. The Government authorities can exercise greater supervision and
pressure in smaller communities, The Protestants in Sofia, therefore, enjoyed
greater freedom in that no church was officially closed and people were free
to go to church.
4. In November 1948 the editor of the only Protestant newspaper Zornitza was
arrested and as of August 1950 was still in a labor camp without having been
tried by a court or officially sentenced.
5. A printing house has just recently been taken over for use by the Committee
for sciences Art,, and Culture,,
6, Following the trial of the pastors, many other Protestants were detained for
a certain period of time by the militia authorities and others are still In
labor carps. Many of the most ardent members of the Methodist Church in
Sofia are either imprisoned or in labor camps, and their families have been
ordered to leave Sofia,
CLASSIFICATION 9PCffT/C0TZ-TR0L
STATE NAVY NSRB DISTRIBUTION
ARf`; ~~ Ain FBI
Approved For Release 2001/04/13 : CIA-RDP82-00457R006100810004-5
 Approved For Release 2001/04/13 : CIA-RDP82-00457R006100810004-5
8T/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
CEP