In 1860 the Bulgarians de facto seceded from the Great Church and in 1870 the Bulgarian church was politically recognized as autonomous under the name Bulgarian Exarchate by the Sultan's firman, although it was not until 1945 that it was recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
En 1860 os búlgaros separáronse a efectos prácticos, e en 1870 a Igrexa búlgara foi recoñecida como autónoma baixo o nome de Exarcado Búlgaro polo firmán do sultán, aínda que non foi até 1945 que o patriarcado o recoñeceu.