Religion
After the creation of the Bulgarian state the Bulgars and the Slavs continued to practice their indigenous religions. The Bulgar religion was monotheistic and they believed in Tangra, the God of the Sky. When Omurtag and Leo V the Armenian concluded a peace treaty in 815, the Byzantine Emperor had to make an oath according to the Bulgarian traditions. The Byzantine historians recorded that the "most Christian" ruler had to perform different pagan rites including cutting dogs and use them as witnesses for his oath. The Slavs worshipped numerous deities. Their supreme god was Perun. There are evidences that Christianity remained widespread in Bulgaria during the first 150 years of existence of the state.
In the mid 9th century Boris I decided to adopt Christianity in order to unite firmly the population of the country.
Read more about this topic: First Bulgarian Empire
Famous quotes containing the word religion:
“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.”
—Ronald Reagan (b. 1911)
“Whitman is like a human document, or a wonderful treatise in human self revelation. It is neither art nor religion nor truth: Just a self revelation of a man who could not live, and so had to write himself.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“Not thou nor thy religion dost controule,
The amorousnesse of an harmonious Soule,
But thou wouldst have that love thy selfe: As thou
Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now,
Thou lovst not, till from loving more, thou free
My soule: Who ever gives, takes libertie:
O, if thou carst not whom I love
Alas, thou lovst not mee.”
—John Donne (15721631)