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Baptism and funeral services in the capital's churches have increased to BGN 100. The Diocesan Council of the Sofia Metropolis has increased the prices of the services offered, starting from January 15, 2023.

Baptism in the Sofia Diocese already costs BGN 100, and this amount includes: font - BGN 40, baptismal certificate - BGN 15, charity stamp - BGN 5 and priest's remuneration - BGN 40. 

The wedding card costs 150 BGN, which includes: wreaths - 40 BGN, 2 wedding certificates.

– BGN 30, charity stamps 2 pcs.

- BGN 10, bishop's diploma - BGN 20, payment for the priest - BGN 50. However, together with the wedding certificate, the newlyweds separately pay for the choir, as well as the fee for photos in the church - BGN 50.

The Patriarch delivered a message on the Day of the Holy Epiphany

The funeral is now priced at BGN 100, St. Forty - BGN 40, the memorial service - BGN 50, and issuing a duplicate of a church document - BGN 25, reports the church website dveri.bg.

In the district of Sofia Diocese, it is stated that for poor parishioners, the burial can be carried out free of charge with a decision of the church board.

The District of Sofia Diocese obliges the priests to issue a receipt for each amount received, and the fees determined by the Diocesan Council must be posted in a prominent place in all churches and strictly observed.

It is also noted that the new fees are marginal.

According to the circumstances, the priest can reduce his remuneration and even give it up, but he cannot arbitrarily increase the fees.

Many of the temples have not yet received an official document about the changed prices of church fees.

Metropolitan priests commented to BTV that the indicated marginal prices cannot be final because they do not include the costs of the temples.

A medium-sized church in Sofia pays nearly BGN 2,000 per month for heating, electricity and water costs are separate, as well as the payment of priests.

At the end of the year, each temple gives the metropolis 5% of its turnover, which includes not only the income from sacraments, vestments and securities, but also what is collected in the donation boxes of the church.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

price growth