Population, Religion and Language

  The last census (in 2001) showed that 7 973 673 people live in Bulgaria. There are many ethnic groups living in Bulgaria (Turks, Roma, Armenians, Jews, Greeks, and Albanians) as a consequence of its historical and geographical specifics. All minorities live in harmony with the Bulgarian population without any social or ethnic pressure.

  The greater part of Bulgarian population is Eastern Orthodox. The smaller groups include Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, as well Dunov's followers, Rosenkreuzer's followers, Mormons, etc. Some of the eastern religions are also represented in the country. Legitimate are the followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, the various branches of Yoga - Hahta, Bhakti, Tantra, Kria, Judeans, Red Indian totems' worshipers, etc.

  Ancient Bulgarians belonged to the Indo-Iranian (East European) group of peoples; as a race type they are defined as Caucasus people as well (according to the West European scientific terminology). Their language was in a written form and the runic script was used.

  Modern Bulgarian literary language was formed during the Renaissance Period. Some of the characteristic features included dropping out of the case forms, post-noun position of the definite article, nine verb tenses, etc. Today there are many local dialects in Bulgaria.

  The Bulgarians use the Cyrillic alphabet, which contains of 30 letters. It was created in the middle of the 9th century by Konstantin-Cyril the Philosopher with the help of his brother Methodius. The first Bulgarian alphabet was called the Glagolitic alphabet. They translated many liturgical service books and in fact created literature in the Bulgarian language. At the end of the 9th century the other Bulgarian alphabet was created - the Cyrillic alphabet, which was a prototype of the alphabet used by today by Bulgarians, Serbians, Russians, Ukrainians, etc. The first language reform was implemented as a natural process in the 19th century along with the development of Revival ideas. About ten obsolete letters and combinations were dropped out. A second reform was carried out after the liberation from the Ottoman rules, the changes being mainly in the word order and syntax.