Christianization Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Bulgaria === {{Main|Christianization of Bulgaria}} [[File:Geographic map of Balkan Peninsula.svg|thumb|Geographic map of Balkan Peninsula|alt=Geographic map of Balkan Peninsula]] [[File:Southeastern Europe Late Ninth Century.png|thumb|Southeastern Europe Late Ninth Century|alt=map showing Southeastern Europe Late Ninth Century]] Official Christianization began in 864/5 under [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Khan Boris I]] (852β 889).{{sfn|Ziemann|2021|pp=331β332}} Boris I determined that imposing Christianity was the answer to internal peace and external security.{{sfn|Crampton|2005|pp=9-10, 11}} The decision was partly military, partly domestic, and partly to diminish the power of the Proto-Bulgarian nobility. A number of nobles reacted violently; 52 were executed.{{sfn|Crampton|2005|pp=13β14}} After prolonged negotiations with both Rome and Constantinople, an [[Autocephaly|autocephalous]] Bulgarian Orthodox Church was formed that used the newly created [[Cyrillic script]] to make the Bulgarian language the language of the Church.{{sfn|Crampton|2005|pp=14β16}} After a series of victories in wars against the Byzantines led by [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Symeon]] (893 to 927), the Byzantines recognized the [[Bulgarian Patriarchate]].{{sfn|Ziemann|2021|p=332}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page