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21st September 2008 |
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Population of Bulgaria is over 8 million and the capital Sofia has 1.2 million. Bulgaria is a Balkan state adjoining Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. A nation since the 5th Century, but rarely independent. Ruled by the Ottoman Empire 1396-1878; severe Communist rule 1947-1989; multi-party democracy instituted in 1990.
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Orthodoxy was the state religion until 1945. The Communists persecuted Christians and manipulated denominational leadership until 1989. The constitution proclaims religious freedom for all, but makes the status of the Orthodox Church one of ambiguous primacy, further reinforced between 1994-7. Since then the government has promised to end all existing religious discrimination. Approx. 80% Christian and 11% Muslim.
Ministry to young people is under-developed. Few churches know how to meet their needs which are so different from their Communist-era parents. Pray for freedom to evangelize and disciple young people in schools. The Bible Society has at last gained inter-confessional agreement for a new translation of the archaic Bulgarian Bible. Work has begun; pray for its rapid completion.
Also pray for Hungary, Romania
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