Bulgaria's Holy Synod on the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics Games in Paris: Vulgarity and tastelessness

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) - Bulgarian Patriarchate on July 30 issued a position regarding the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.

"It is an indisputable truth that for more than 2,000 years until today the foundation of European civilization has been Christianity, Christian values and virtues, i.e. Christ's evangelical morality and world view. Christianity has left its indelible mark on all aspects of human life and culture, and the earthly life of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ and of His disciples and followers has served as inspiration for the greatest works of art,” the statement said.

"Just a few days ago, the opening of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games in France caused feelings of embarrassment, temptation, and offense throughout the Christian community," the Holy Synod said. Despite the organizers’ declared motives, the Synod found the artistic images presented to be incompatible with Christian evangelical morality, spiritual life, and common human reason. The statement also criticized the ceremony for violating centuries-old European aesthetic criteria and the classical ideal of “a healthy spirit in a healthy body” that the Olympic Games are meant to celebrate.

“The obscenity and ideological tastelessness are only part of the issue. The crux of the matter lies in the defiant, discriminatory, and offensive stance towards the religious sentiments of devout Christians, which we cannot condone or ignore", the Holy Synod said.

"Christ is unequivocal on this issue: 'If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!' (Mt 18:6-7)", BP quoted.

The many critical voices that have emerged in response to the ceremony testify to the fact that Christian Europe remains vibrant, and efforts to de-Christianize and de-humanize Europe will not succeed, as history has shown that all attempts to fight against Christ and His Church have ultimately failed.

"Our nation's path is the European path, but we are for a Christian Europe; for a Europe that respects and honours its history and its roots. We firmly believe that without a real, vibrant faith in Christ and in enduring Christian values, Europe does not and cannot have a viable future," the statement said.