site.btaBulgarian Patriarch, Greek Education Minister Discuss Greece's Experience of Teaching Religion as Compulsory School Subject

His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil met Greek Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki during his visit to Thessaloniki for the Second International Conference marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the journal Theology, taking place Monday and Tuesday in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Bulgarian Patriarchate reported.

Minister Zacharaki shared details of Greece’s educational initiatives, including a programme for prospective clerics launched in 2024, and Greece’s experience in teaching “Religion – Orthodoxy” as a compulsory subject in secondary schools.

The two discussed the strong ties between the peoples and Orthodox Churches of Greece and Bulgaria, highlighting cooperation in pilgrimage tourism and student education programmes. Patriarch Daniil expressed gratitude for the opportunity for Bulgarian students to study at Greek theological institutions, noting that young Bulgarians are currently studying at the universities of Thessaloniki and Athens.

Both sides stressed that modern challenges should not discourage the pursuit of knowledge and spiritual growth, and concluded the meeting with discussions of future joint projects.

Earlier, Patriarch Daniil met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to discuss centuries-old spiritual ties and inter-Orthodox cooperation.