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.

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