June 3, 2011

The Triangle of Religious Tolerance in Sofia


The Constitution of Bulgaria designates Orthodox Christianity (82.64% of the population) as the "traditional" religion of the country, but guarantees the free exercise of religion. Bulgaria has not experienced any significant-scale ethnico-religious confrontation as was the case in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and 2000s. The religious communities in the country coexist peacefully.

In fact, the capital Sofia is known for its so-called Triangle of Religious Tolerance: the St Nedelya Church, Banya Bashi Mosque and Sofia Synagogue are located within metres of each other in the very centre of the city.