Religion First_Bulgarian_Empire

1 religion

1.1 pagan bulgaria
1.2 christianization
1.3 bulgarian orthodox church
1.4 bogomilism

religion
pagan bulgaria

the pliska rosette dated pagan period has 7 fingers representing classical planets

in first 2 centuries after creation, bulgarian state remained pagan. bulgars , slavs continued practice indigenous religions. bulgar religion monotheistic, linked cult tangra, god of sky. worship of tangra proven inscription reads kanasubigi omurtag, divine ruler ... performed sacrifice god tangra . ruling khan had important place in religious life; high priest , performed rituals. large sanctuary dedicated cult of tangra existed near modern village of madara. bulgars practised shamanism, believed in magic , charms, , performed various rituals. of rituals described byzantines after christian ruler leo v had pour out water on ground cup, turn round horse saddles, touch triple bridle, lift grass high above ground , cut dogs witnesses during ceremony of signing of byzantine–bulgarian treaty of 815. pouring of water reminder if oath broken, blood pour out. in same sense can explained turning of saddle – a warning violator not able ride or fall dead horse during battle. triple bridle symbolised toughness of agreement , lifting of grass reminded no grass remain in enemy country if peace broken. sacrifice of dogs common custom among turkic peoples further strengthened treaty.

the slavs worshiped numerous deities. supreme god perun, god of thunder , lightning. perun god mentioned (though not name) first authoritative reference slavic mythology in written history, 6th century byzantine historian procopius, described slavs settled south of danube. procopius noted worshipped rivers , believed in nymphs. number of mythological being slavic pantheon persisted in bulgarian folklore present, such samodivas, halas, vilas, rusalkas, slavic dragons, etc. during sacrifices slavs perform divinations. after adoption of christianity worship of perun merged cult saint elijah.

bulgarian soldiers kill christians during persecutions, menologion of basil ii

christianity practised in bulgaria throughout whole pagan period. dissemination among populace increased result of successful wars of khan krum in beginning of 9th century. krum employed many byzantine christians – greeks, armenians , slavs – in military , administration; of them served deputies of kavhan , ichirgu-boila. tens of thousands byzantines resettled across bulgaria, beyond danube river protect north-eastern borders, face non-byzantines. many of them, however, maintained clandestine links byzantine court fuelled traditional distrust of bulgarian elite , resulted in large-scale persecution of christianity under khans omurtag , malamir. omurtag , nobility saw christians byzantine agents , felt religion, hierarchy based in byzantium, treat bulgarian independence. there executions, including 2 of 5 strategoi served under krum, leo , john, metropolitan of adrianople, bishop of debeltos, etc. list of martyred christians included bulgar (asfer, kuberg) , slav names. dismissive attitude of christians towards pagans insulting bulgarian elite. in conversation byzantine christian omurtag told him: not humiliate our gods, power great. proof, worship them, have conquered whole roman state . yet, despite measures, christianity continued spread, reaching members of khan s own family. omurtag s eldest son enravota, seen pro-christian, disinherited , converted christianity. after refusing renounce faith, executed orders of brother malamir c. 833 , became first bulgarian saint. attitude of bulgarian rulers christianity seen in philippi inscription of khan presian:

...if seeks truth, god watches. , if 1 lies, god watches. bulgarians did many things christians [the byzantines] , christians forgot, god watches.

christianization

by 863 presian s successor khan boris i had decided accept christianity. sources not mention reasons behind decision there several political rationales had considered. christianity spreading further europe in 9th century pagan countries found encircled christian powers use religion acceptable excuse aggression. conversion on other hand establish country equal international partner. there evidence bulgaria did have contacts muslim world well – either directly or through volga bulgaria had adopted islam @ same time – but country far away muslim country of political benefit, , large part of population had been christian. furthermore, christian doctrine cement monarch s position high above nobility autocrat, being ruler grace of god , god s representative on earth. moreover, christianity presented excellent opportunity firmly consolidate both bulgars , slavs in single bulgarian people under common religion.

baptism of boris , court, painting nikolai pavlovich

in 863 boris i sought mission east francia rather byzantine empire. had alliance eastern franks since 860 , aware larger distance between 2 countries obstacle them yield direct influence on future bulgarian church. aware neighbour byzantium try interfere bulgarian matters. indeed, byzantine empire determined place bulgarian church under jurisdiction of ecumenical patriarchate of constantinople because hoped serve leverage influence bulgarian policies, , furthermore not allow bulgaria become military tool of papacy potentially employed pope enforce wishes on empire. upon learning boris i s intentions byzantine emperor michael iii invaded bulgaria. @ time bulgarian army engaged in warfare against great moravia north-east , boris i agreed negotiate. byzantines demand boris i adopt christianity constantinople , accept byzantine clergy evangelise population. boris conceded , baptised in 864 taking name of godfather, emperor michael.

the highest posts in newly established bulgarian church held byzantines preached in greek language. aware of dangers spiritual dependency on byzantine empire pose bulgaria s independence, boris i determined ensure autonomy of bulgarian church under patriarch. since byzantines reluctant grant concessions boris took advantage on ongoing rivalry between patriarchate of constantinople , papacy in rome in order prevent either of them exerting influence in lands through religion. in 866 sent delegation rome under high-ranking official peter declaring desire accept christianity in accordance western rites along 115 questions pope nicholas i. pope s detailed answers boris i s questions delivered 2 bishops heading mission facilitate conversion of bulgarian people. however, neither nicolas i nor successor adrian ii agreed recognize autonomous bulgarian church, cooled relations between 2 sides. bulgaria s shift towards rome on other hand, made byzantines more conciliatory. in 870, @ fourth council of constantinople, bulgarian church recognized autocephalous eastern orthodox church under supreme direction of patriarch of constantinople.

the adoption of christianity met opposition large layers of nobility. in 866 boris i faced major rebellion of boila parts of country. insurgency crushed , 52 leading boilas executed along whole kin. after boris i abdicated in 889 successor , eldest son vladimir (r. 889–893) attempted restore paganism father took arms against him , had him deposed , blinded.

bulgarian orthodox church

a medieval icon of saint clement of ohrid, high-ranking official of bulgarian church, scholar, writer , enlightener of bulgarians , slavs

since 870 bulgarian church autonomous under archbishop. decree of autonomy under nominal ecclesiastical jurisdiction of constantinople far greater possibly had been achieved under papacy. following fourth council of constantinople byzantine clergy once again admitted bulgaria , allowed preach in greek. however, result of council of preslav in 893 old bulgarian declared official language of state , church , greek-speaking byzantine priests had leave country. thus, church entirely staffed bulgarians.

boris i s successor simeon i not content have bulgarian church rank of archbishopric , determined raise patriarchate, in light of own ambition become emperor. acquainted byzantine imperial tradition autocrat must have patriarch , there no empire without patriarchate. in aftermath of remarkable triumph on byzantines in battle of achelous, in 918 convened council , elevated archbishop leontius patriarch. decisions of council not recognized byzantines result of bulgarian victory in war recognized leontius successor demetrius patriarch of bulgaria in 927. first patriarchate officially accepted, apart ancient pentarchy. seat of patriarchate in city of drastar on danube river rather in capital preslav. in late 10th century bulgarian patriarchate included following dioceses: ohrid, kostur, glavinitsa (in modern southern albania), maglen, pelagonia, strumitsa, morovizd (in modern northern greece), velbazhd, serdica, braničevo, niš, belgrade, srem, skopje, prizren, lipljan, servia, drastar, voden, ras, chernik, himara, drinopol, butrint, yanina, petra , stag.

after fall of eastern parts of empire under byzantine occupation in 971 seat of patriarchate relocated ohrid in west. final conquest of bulgaria in 1018 patriarchate demoted archbishopric retained many privileges. kept control of existing episcopal sees, seat remained in ohrid , titular, bulgarian john of debar, kept office. furthermore, bulgarian archbishopric given special position – it placed directly under emperor rather under ecumenical patriarch of constantinople.

monasticism grew steadily , monasteries became major landowners large population of peasants living estates. developed further under reign of emperor peter i, accompanied augmentation of properties. many high-ranking nobles , members of ruling family tonsured , died monks, including boris i, brother doks, peter i, ichirgu-boila mostich, etc. growing opulence of monastic life led increase of asceticism among more pious monks. 1 of them, john of rila, became hermit in rila mountains , virtues attracted number of followers, founded renowned rila monastery after death. preached living in harmony , stressed value of manual labour , need monks never aspire riches , power. john of rila revered saint while still alive , became patron of bulgarian people.

in 10th century bulgarian clerics established connections emerging christian communities in rus . bulgaria seems had been established centre small number of russian christians obtained clergy , liturgical texts. result of sviatoslav s invasion of bulgaria many of soldiers influenced christianity , maintained interest after return. connections between bulgarians , russians must considered important background official conversion christianity of kievan rus in 988.

bogomilism


expansion of bogomilism in medieval europe

during reign of emperor peter i (r. 927–969) in bulgaria arose heretical movement known bogomilism. heresy named after founder priest bogomil name can translated dear (mil) god (bog). main sources bogomilism in bulgaria come letter of ecumenical patriarch theophylact of constantinople peter (c. 940), treatise cosmas priest (c. 970) , anti-bogomil council of emperor boril of bulgaria (1211). bogomilism neo-gnostic , dualist sect believed god had 2 sons, jesus christ , satan, represented 2 principles , evil. god had created light , invisible world, while satan rebelled , created darkness, material world , man. therefore, rejected marriage, reproduction, church, old testament, cross, etc. bogomils divided several categories, led perfecti (the perfect ones) never married, consumed no meat , wine , preached gospel. women become perfecti. other 2 categories believers, had adopt , follow of bogomil moral ethics, , listeners, not required change lifestyle. bogomils described cosmas looking docile, modest , silent outside, being hypocrites , ravenous wolves in inside. bulgarian orthodox church condemned teachings of bogomilism , members of sect persecuted state authorities since bogomils preached civil disobedience because earthly state considered linked satan. sect not eradicated , bulgaria spread rest of balkans, byzantine empire, southern france , northern italy. in regions of western europe heresy flourished under different names – cathars, albigensians, patarins – until 14th century.