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Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa was elected as temporary head of the Holy Synod

Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa
Photo: Iva Antonova

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.



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