The Bulgarian Old
Catholic Church

Official logo of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church with cross and Bulgarian text

The Bulgarian Old Catholic Church.
Rooted in the Early Faith. Independent. Apostolic. Inclusive.

Who is the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church?

The Bulgarian Old Catholic Church (BOCC) is a small, independent Catholic jurisdiction grounded in the early undivided Church. We uphold the full sacramental and theological tradition of Catholic Christianity while remaining free from papal jurisdiction and modern institutional bureaucracy.

We are:

  • Catholic in faith, sacraments, and structure
  • Apostolic in succession and doctrine
  • Non-Roman and non-Utrecht, yet fully sacramental
  • Inclusive in practice, without doctrinal compromise
  • Locally rooted, internationally engaged

History and Canonical Establishment

The BOCC was founded to continue the sacramental and apostolic life of the Catholic Church without the additions of papal infallibility or centralised governance. Its formation was grounded in the principles of the early Church and the theology of the 1889 Declaration of Utrecht.

The Church was canonically established with the consecration of Archbishop Svetoslav Vasilev on 13 January 2019. That consecration was performed using proper form, matter, and intention, in line with Catholic sacramental theology, and in valid apostolic succession.

Legal Recognition in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Old Catholic Church (BOCC) is a legally registered religious denomination in the Republic of Bulgaria.

  • Registered Name (in Bulgarian): Българска Старокатолическа Църква
  • Unified Identification Code (EIK): 177269719
  • Registered Address: ul. Hristo Belchev No. 11, Entrance B, Floor 3, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Legal Basis: Registered under the Law on Religious Confessions (2002) of Bulgaria
  • Legal Form: Independent religious institution with full legal personality and rights

This registration grants the BOCC the legal right to:

  • Celebrate public worship
  • Own and manage property
  • Publish religious and educational materials
  • Ordain clergy
  • Establish missions, charitable bodies, and educational initiatives

The BOCC is recognised as equal in legal standing to other religious communities in Bulgaria and operates under the legal protection of religious freedom as enshrined in the Bulgarian Constitution.

The Mission of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church

The BOCC exists to:

  • Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  • Offer the sacraments to all the faithful
  • Provide pastoral support, especially where churches have failed
  • Form local missions and international communities
  • Support clergy who serve in diverse and often non-institutional contexts

The BOCC ministers among a wide range of communities—including ethnic Bulgarians, the Roma minority, Bulgarian diaspora abroad, and independent clergy or faith communities in need of sacramental oversight and theological grounding. These ministries are usually conducted in Bulgarian or Romani and serve specific pastoral needs across the country and region.

In parallel, the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is our dedicated English-language ministry. It was created specifically to serve English-speaking Christians, both local and international, who desire access to the sacraments, orthodox Catholic faith, and a welcoming spiritual home. While part of the BOCC, the English mission is structurally distinct and pastorally focused on a different community, using English as its primary language of worship, teaching, and pastoral care.

Episcopal Leadership & Oversight

The Church is led by Archbishop Svetoslav, who serves as the Church’s:

  • Canonical and sacramental authority
  • Guarantor of apostolic succession and theological continuity
  • Spiritual father to clergy and laity alike
  • President of the Holy Synod (when in session)

He was consecrated in 2019 and remains the only bishop of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church. His role is pastoral, not authoritarian, and follows the episcopal model of the early Church: oversight in communion, not domination.

The Bulgarian Old Catholic Church is a legally recognised religious denomination under Bulgarian law, enjoying the same rights and protections as other churches. Its governance structure is set out in the Church’s own statutes and is rooted in synodality—where bishops, clergy, and laity share in leadership and mission. All clergy are non-stipendiary and ordained in valid apostolic succession, with pastoral oversight provided by the Archbishop. The BOCC’s ministry extends beyond Bulgaria through missions and clergy serving in countries such as Germany, North Macedonia, and parts of Africa—always with respect for local law and the Church’s sacramental and theological standards.

Apostolic Succession and Sacraments

The Bulgarian Old Catholic Church affirms the three classical criteria for valid ordination:

  1. Form – the historic prayers of ordination
  2. Matter – the laying on of hands by a bishop in valid succession
  3. Intention – to ordain into the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church

The BOCC maintains apostolic succession through Old Catholic and Eastern Orthodox lines. Archbishop Svetoslav’s succession is documented, verifiable, and recognised sacramentally, even if not jurisdictionally, by other apostolic churches.

Our sacraments are:

  • Real: encounters with grace, not empty symbols
  • Valid: celebrated according to the Catholic and apostolic faith
  • Offered with reverence, clarity, and pastoral care

Read more about our apostolic succession

Our Relationship to the Union of Utrecht

While we affirm the theological foundations of the Union of Utrecht, especially the Declaration of Utrecht (1889), we are not affiliated with or governed by it.

The BOCC is an independent jurisdiction. We share theological kinship with Utrecht-aligned churches but remain canonically and pastorally free to serve the needs of our context.

The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission

The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is the English-language ministry of the BOCC. It exists to:

  • Serve English-speaking Christians in Bulgaria and abroad
  • Offer access to valid sacraments outside institutional barriers
  • Provide pastoral care and teaching to those excluded or unsupported
  • Build a reverent, inclusive Catholic presence with ancient roots

The mission is led by Father Ashley R. Deutschmann, ordained in apostolic succession within the BOCC and authorised by the Archbishop to lead English-language ministry.

It is currently non-parochial and operates flexibly—offering worship, teaching, prayer, and pastoral support as opportunities arise.

What We Offer

  • Valid sacraments (Eucharist, Baptism, Blessings, etc.)
  • Catholic teaching grounded in the early Church
  • Clergy who serve pastorally, not professionally
  • A spirit of inclusion rooted in the Gospel
  • International openness with local focus

We do not claim exclusivity. We believe God works across many churches—but we also stand with confidence in the integrity of our ministry, sacraments, and faith.

Learn More

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