Bulgarian Holy Synod Elects Varna Metropolitan

The headquarters of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in downtown Sofia, file photo

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is holding Sunday a meeting toelect a Metropolitan of Varna among the two top runners for the post.

All members of the Synod gathered Saturday to examine the vote after Znepol Bishop Yoan (John) and Melnik Bishop Seraphim were selected last Sunday as the two finalists for the post of Varna and Veliki Preslav Metropolitan.

The Holy Synod heard the report of Dorostol Metropolitan Amvrosiy and decided that the vote has been conducted in adherence to Church Cannons.

The final vote is being held in the St Tsar Boris-Mihail the Baptizer Chapel. The Metropolitans will be addressed by Patriarch Neofit. He will be the first one to cast a vote.

Then, the senior clergy will in turn enter the Chapel and will write in person one of the two names to designate their favorite and sign underneath.

Last Sunday was the Diocesan Council in Varna second attempt to elect two candidates for Varna and Veliki Preslav metropolitan as the first vote was annulled by the Synod.

The decision came after representatives of both clergy and laity said they have grounds to believe that the election was rigged.

The first round vote, which took place on November 17, elected Bachkovo Monastery Abbot Boris and little-known bishop Ignatius as contestants for the second round.

The Varna and Veliki Preslav metropolitan bishop seat became vacated - or "widowed" in Bulgarian Orthodox Christian parlance - after the July mystery drowning death of controversial former bishop Kiril.

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