Southeastern Europe Spirituality
Orthodoxy, Islam, and Paganism have played roles in Balkan history.
Spirituality, religion, belief, ritual, and celebration in Southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria, has adapted to prevailing religions through this region's history.
Religion has dictated the social practices of Southeastern Europeans for centuries. The history of Southeastern European in general, and the history of Bulgaria in particular, has experienced changing religious laws, the conversion of pagan rituals into Christian ones, and cultural advancements as a result of shifting religious mores.
Bogomil Sect: This sect of anti-materialistic ascetics had a strong peasant following in Bosnia and Bulgaria during the middle ages.
Crypto-Christianity: The "double faith" of the Southeastern European Slavs required outward conversion to Islam and personal loyalty to Christianity.
Cyril, Methodius, and Cyrillic: The Cyrillic alphabet was an important step in the development of the Slavic peoples. Two Byzantine monks helped spread their alphabet; some of the first works to be translated into Cyrillic writing were religious texts.
Christmas Traditions in Bulgaria: Christmas traditions in Bulgaria follow closely the dictates of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Bulgarian Easter Egg Traditions: Ancient Bulgarian paganism and Eastern Orthodoxy mix in the celebration of this important Eastern European holiday.
South Slavic Witchcraft: Folk magic, either black magic or white magic, was practiced by witches in Southeastern Europe to heal the sick, induce desire, or punish enemies.
