About Us
MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF BULGARIA
•Grand Lodge of Bulgaria is working to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe.
•Essential requirement for each Candidate seeking membership in our Grand Lodge is the Believe in Supreme Being and this requirement is incorporated in our Constitution.
•Our Lodges are composed only by men and any intercourse with mixed or female Lodges is strictly forbidden.
•To all meetings of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria and its constituent Lodges the Three Great Lights of Freemasonry – the Volume of Sacred Law, Square and Compasses are disposed and open.
•Any involvement of the MW Grand Lodge of Bulgaria and its members in political, racial and religious disputes is prohibited.
Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Bulgaria was founded on June 9, 1917 with a Charter of the Grand Lodge of France issued on the same date. Grand Lodge of
France (GLDF) – mother of the Bulgarian Freemasonry, was established in 1728. The official history reports that English Freemasons came to France and founded speculative Lodges in the early 18th century. These Lodges received French Gentlemen. Between May and July of 1728, all Lodges grouped themselves under the auspices of the first French Masonic body: The English Grand Lodge of France. Its Grand Master was the Duke of Wharton, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. It was the first Grand Lodge carried on the European continent from the British Isles. The first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria was General Alexander Protogerov. Three Lodges – the founder, who then worked in Sofia, quickly multiplied and later on the eve of World War II on the Role of the first Bulgarian Grand Lodge were more than 11 Subordinate Lodges with about 800 Brethren Masons.
The members of Grand Lodge of Bulgaria are luminaries from the new Bulgarian history, social and cultural life. The first Rector of Sofia University Prof. Alexander Teodorov – Balan, academician Mihail Arnaudov, academician Venelin Ganev, banker and politician Atanas Burov, Andrew Lyapchev, Konstantin Stanishev, Zachari Stoyanov, Alexander Malinov, Konstantin Stoilov, Exarch Stefan I, Aleko Konstantinov, Prof. Asen Zlatarov, Prof. Gabriel Katsarov and Generals of the Bulgarian Army Hristo Lukov, Varban Vinarov and Peter Midilev.
General Peter Midilev is the second Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria.He died before the Bulgarian Parliament to vote on “The protection of the nation Law”, pressured by Nazi Germany. Under this law in 1940 the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria ceased to work and its entirety property was confiscated and handed to the Ministry of Interior.
Then came 70 years darkness of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria. Our country moved from dictatorship of fascism in the dictatorship of so-called Communist system in which there is no place for free thinking people and associations in which these people to meet and work together.After Bulgaria became a full member of the European Union in 2007, the leadership of the Grand Lodge of France made initial steps toward rapprochement with Bulgarian Brothers from different Masonic jurisdictions, living and working in our country.
At the end of 2009 three Bulgarian Lodges working under another Obedience also called to the Grand Lodge of France awakening of the Light of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria from 1917. The first Lodge was “Benjamin Franklin” No. 50, working in the Orient Sofia and joined by two Lodges from city of Gabrovo – Lodge “IZIDA”, and Lodge “Gabrovo”. After a meeting in Paris in January 2010 the Grand Lodge of France officially mandated Lodge “Benjamin Franklin” and its Master of Chair, to hold the a Constituent Assembly of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria with three founding Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Bulgaria was registered in Sofia City Court as an association with a registered name. Following the adoption of the Constitution and the act of incorporation of 17 May 2010, Grand Lodge of France at a meeting of its Federal Council of 21st May 2010 recognized the restoration of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria and elected officers of the Grand Line. On June 2nd 2010, a group of French Brethren was sent to Bulgaria for inspection that confirmed the regular work and management of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria.Then on its annual Convention, held from 18th to 20th June, the Grand Lodge of France has decided to restore the Charter granted in 1917 to the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria. The Installation of the Grand Master and Grand Officers of Grand Lodge of Bulgaria was scheduled for October 17, 2010.
So, on October 17th, 2010 personally the MW Grand Master of France – Prof. Alain Noel Dubart, installed the 3rd Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria. The event was attended by the Grand Masters of the 10 Grand Lodges and witnesses a regular and fully installed Grand Lodge of Bulgaria.
Witnesses of the act declaring the legitimacy of GLB are:
- Grand Lodge of Sweden
- Grand Lodge of Belgium
- United Grand Lodge of Russia
- Grand Lodge Confederative of Spain
- National Grand Lodge of Serbia
- Serenissima Grand Lodge of Italy
- Grand Lodge of Hungary
- United Grand Lodge of Lebanon
- National Grand Lodge of Romania
- National Grand Lodge of Moldova
Under the MW Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, are working 6 constituent Lodges:
- “B. Franklin” № 5 – in Sofia
- “Ivan Wojnoff” № 6 – in Veliko Tarnovo
- “Alexander I Battenberg” № 7 – in Sofia (German speaking Lodge)
The MW Grand Lodge of Bulgaria and its constituent Lodges are working by the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite only. The official Language is Bulgarian, but by
dispensation of the MW Grand Master some Lodges can work in English, French
and German.
MW Grand Lodge of Bulgaria has signed Treaties with and is recognized by:
1. National Grand Lodge of Romania
2. Grand Lodge of Sweden
3. United Grand Lodge of Russia
4. National Grand Lodge of Serbia
5. Serenissima Grand Lodge of Italy
6. National Grand Lodge of Moldova
7. Grand Lodge Confederative of Spain
8. United Grand Lodge of Lebanon
9. Grande Loja Nacional Portuguesa
10. Grand Lodge of Ancient & Accepted Scottish Ritual of Hungary
11. Grand Lodge of the Czech Lands