Marriage in Bulgaria – Subject of Legislative Regulation and Canonical Rules

Abstract

Marriage is one of the institutions regulated simultaneously by state legislation and canon law. Consequently, every Orthodox Christian entering into marriage is required to fulfill the requirements of the Church’s canons as a Christian. Additionally, they must adhere to the norms of state law as a citizen. This necessitates a comparison between the requirements of Church canons and state law to define the conditions and obstacles to marriage according to both. Furthermore, we examine any contradictions between them and explore the possibility of resolving these contradictions. We also analyze situations where no compromise can be reached between Church canons and state law. This paper attempts such a comparison without providing a detailed historical review. Its purpose is to highlight the current challenges and future perspectives for the institution of marriage, along with the related legislative regulations and canonical order.