Sofia, August 3 (BTA) - The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church issued an address Friday welcoming the decision of the Constitutional Court of July 27 that the Istanbul Convention (formally: the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) contravenes the Bulgarian Constitution.

The Holy Synod reiterated its categorical position against the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, arguing that the convention contravenes Orthodox teachings and introduces concepts that are incompatible with the pubilc and legal order in Bulgaria.