New Patriarch of Bulgarian Orthodox Church elected

Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg

On June 30 in Sofia, the elections for the new Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church were held. The official Facebook page of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church hosted a live broadcast.

The voting took place in two rounds. In the first round, Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa received 64 votes, Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin received 51 votes, and Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech received 19 votes.

In the second round, participants of the Patriarchal Electoral Church Council chose between Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa and Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin for the new Primate.

As a result, Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin was elected as the new Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, receiving 69 votes. Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa received 66 votes.

Three ballots were declared invalid.

The official announcement of the newly elected Bulgarian Patriarch's name will take place around 14:30.

The newly elected Patriarch Daniel, along with metropolitan bishops and hierarchs, will proceed to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, where they will be awaited by leaders and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches.

The enthronement of the newly elected Bulgarian Patriarch and the service of supplication will take place at 15:00.

As the UOJ wrote, Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin, a candidate for Patriarch of Bulgaria, accused the Phanar of persecuting the UOC.

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