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Bishop Arseniy of Znepol elected as the new Metropolitan of Sliven

Photo: BTA

Bishop Arseniy of Znepol was elected as the new Metropolitan of Sliven. He received 7 votes by the Metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, who is Secretary General of the Holy Synod, received 5 votes. The results were announced by the temporary head of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa.

Bishop Arseniy of Znepol (Atanas Dimitrov Lazarov) was born on November 18, 1986, in Stara Zagora. He completed his primary education in the village of Osetenovo, Pavel Banya Municipality. He was tonsured a monk by Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv on August 11, 2007.

On June 30, the Holy Synod will convene a Patriarchal Electoral Church Council to elect a new Patriarch. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is expected to arrive in Sofia for the election.




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