Bulgaria publishes a list of candidates for the patriarchal throne

Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Photo: BOC website

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has published a list of metropolitans who will claim the patriarchal throne following the death of BOC Patriarch Neophytos.

The process of electing the Primate will be controlled by the Holy Synod. Candidates for the post must be at least 50 years old. They must have the title of metropolitan for at least 5 years, and strictly observe the canons of the Church.

The list of candidates is as follows:

1. Metropolitan Joseph of the United States, Canada and Australia.
2. Metropolitan Gregory of Velikotyrnovsk.
3. Metropolitan Ignatius of Pleven.
4. Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech.
5. Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv.
6. Metropolitan John of Varna and Velikopreslavl.
7. Metropolitan Naum of Rusensk (Chervensk).
8. Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa.
9. Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin.

As the UOJ reported, on 13 March 2024, His Holiness Neophyte, Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, died after a long illness.

Read also

Abp. Alexei: How to Pray as a Family

"If a family prays together," His Eminence said, "the household becomes a little tower in that vineyard."

Pat. Bartholomew Honors U.S. Traditions, Greek Heritage in Washington Visit

Bartholomew lays wreath at Arlington, meets with U.S. leaders, and blesses faithful in Virginia.

Police Return Relics of St. Raphael to St. Vladimir's Seminary

Yonkers officers, K9 unit honored with blessing and thanksgiving at the seminary.

Conference to Celebrate 100 Years of ROCOR in Germany

The event will take place from May 6-8, 2026 at the historic Blutenburg Castle near St. Job of Pochaev Monastery near Munich.

Patriarch of Alexandria Baptizes 100 in Madagascar

During his homily, Theodore II called baptism “the new birth of man."

Patriarch of Jerusalem Meets with President of Turkey

Theophilos III met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Constantinople. The following day, back in Jerusalem, Theophilos granted an audience to (among others) Abp. Nathanael of the Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem.