Bulgarian Orthodox Metropolitan Visits Constantinople, Turkish Thrace

Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech has made a pastoral visit the Bulgarian Diaspora in Constantinople and Turkish-occupied Thrace, first visiting St. Stephen's Iron Church in Constantinople, the representation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and then concelebrating with Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the latter's election as ecumenical patriarch. After his time in Constantinople Metropolitan Gabriel visited the two Bulgarian-speaking parishes in Adrianople (Edirne in Turkish) before returning to Bulgaria. More (in Bulgarian) here.

Photo of the Day: Tonsuring in Central Bulgaria

Toshko Dilovski is brought forward by his sponsoring monk to be tonsured by Metropolitan Gabriel (Dinev) of Lovech into the little schema as the Monk Michael.

Interview with Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech

A fascinating Bulgarian-language interview with Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church about the Bulgarian Diaspora in the Komi Republic of the Russian Federation can be found here. The Russian Orthodox Church recently asked the Church of Bulgaria to send a priest to Komi to care for the Bulgarians there and organize a Bulgarian-language school, the prospects for which Metropolitan Gabriel was investigating during his recent visit to Russia.

Abbot Appointed for Troyan Monastery

At today's meeting of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church it was decided, among other things, to appoint Bishop Grigoriy of Branit as Abbot of the Troyan Monastery of the Dormition. Axios! His installation will be celebrated by Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech. More here and here.

Meeting of the Bulgarian Orthodox Holy Synod

At its first session in the New Year the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church approved the ongoing visit of Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech to Russia and also appointed Metropolitan Kirill of Varna as its representative at an upcoming planning meeting in Chambessy for a general council of the Local Orthodox Churches. More on those decisions here. The Holy Synod also approved a previous decision not to include Metropolitan Simeon (Dimitrov) of Berlin and Western Europe and Metropolitan Joseph of New York and the USA, Canada, and Australia in its rotating membership due to the logistical issues involved. More on that and other decisions here.

Status of Bulgarian Orthodox Eparchy in North America Discussed in Moscow

During his visit to Moscow Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church met with Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Wood) of the American Orthodox representation in the city to discuss a possible visit by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) to Bulgaria as well as the status of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's communities in North America. More here.