Fifty-four-year-old Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa was unanimously elected temporary head of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Gregory will be responsible for organizing the election of a new patriarch within the next 4 months.
Nine out of the thirteen metropolitans are eligible for the position of patriarch. According to the statute of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, they must be at least 50 years old and have served as a metropolitan for at least 5 years. One of the eligible candidates, Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv, announced that he will not run for patriarch. The temporary head of the Holy Synod will also lead the Sofia diocese until the election of a new patriarch, said the spokesman of the Holy Synod- Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora.
In 1018, after half a century of struggle, the First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantium. Despite the many uprisings of the Bulgarians, the power of Constantinople lasted for nearly two centuries. In the autumn of 1185 or the..
On 19 October, Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski, also known as St John of Rila, who is considered the country’s heavenly protector. He founded the Rila Monastery, which is the largest and most influential spiritual centre in Bulgaria. Ivan..
Father Genadiy Martinov is a Bessarabian Bulgarian, born in the village of Devetliy, Odessa province (Ukraine). Two centuries ago, his family lived in Eastern Thrace, near Edirne, but after the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829), during a period..
In 1018, after half a century of struggle, the First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantium. Despite the many uprisings of the..
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